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Reno • Tim Duryea sat next to his mentor, former Utah State head coach Stew Morrill, for 14 seasons. During that stretch, the Aggies averaged 23 wins per season, reached the NCAA tournament six times and won five conference championships.

This season — Duryea's first after replacing his former boss — hasn't gone as well. Heading into Wednesday's game at Nevada, Utah State is 13-12 overall and 5-9 in the Mountain West Conference.

The Aggies have won two of their past three games, and had a chance in the final moments of a 75-68 loss at Fresno State on Saturday night.

If any of the players have quit on Duryea and his staff, they are disguising it well.

"We've been through some stuff, as a group," the rookie head coach said. "There's been the obvious stuff and there has been other stuff we've had to handle. But I think our guys want to have a good year to represent Utah State."

Rock-bottom came two weeks ago at Wyoming, where the Cowboys went 20-for-38 from the 3-point line and rolled to an 84-65 victory.

"We've talked about it a lot," Duryea said. "This program is obviously a proud program and we need to represent it a little better than we have in our approach. If we take care of the approach, the wins and losses will take care of themselves."

Duryea received support from an unlikely source after the Wyoming loss. He had a long visit with Larry Shyatt, the Cowboys' veteran coach.

Said Duryea: "We just talked in general: Stay true to your beliefs and stay true to your standards — things you know down deep. But it always helps to hear it from somebody that's done it a long time."

After losing at Wyoming, Utah State played two of its best games of the season. The Aggies defeated New Mexico (80-72) and Colorado State (72-59).

" … The one thing you hope is your team has character and your team sticks together," Duryea said. "And I'll give our guys credit for that."

Utah State's season is far from over, of course. The Aggies have four games remaining, including home games against San Jose State and Fresno State.

It's unlikely they can move up to fifth place in the regular-season standings and secure a first-round bye in the Mountain West tournament, but the conference is so balanced behind San Diego State that a run through the tournament by any team wouldn't be shocking.

For Utah State, the journey begins in Reno.

"They don't play a ton of guys, but the guys they play are all very capable scorers," Duryea said. "They give you a lot mismatch problems. … But our guys feel good about going to their place and having a chance to compete. It's a chance to get a quality win on a [good] team's court. We'll have confidence to go play well." —

Utah State at Nevada

P At the Lawlor Events Center

Tip-off • 8 p.m. MST

TV • ROOT

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 97.5 FM, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 13-12, 5-9 MW; Nevada 16-10, 8-6

Series • Utah State 35-16

Last meeting • Nevada, 89-84 (Jan. 30)

About the Aggies • They have won two of their past three but come off a 75-68 loss at Fresno State. … They are 4-2 in their past six in Reno. … They are third in the league in 3-point shooting (.358). … Their top scorers are senior G Chris Smith (14.7 ppg.) and junior F Jalen Moore (14.6 ppg.).

About the Wolf Pack • They have won three of their past four games. … They shoot 30.1 percent from the 3-point line. … They lead the Mountain West in blocks per game (6.0). … Their top scorers are senior G Marqueze Coleman (17.2 ppg.) and junior G J.D. Fenner (13.0 ppg.). … Coach Eric Musselman is in his first season with the Wolf Pack.