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The road hasn't been kind to Utah State. So after three consecutive conference losses away from the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, the Aggies return to Logan on Saturday night in hopes of escaping the Mountain West Conference cellar.
"It is so hard everywhere you go for many different reasons," USU coach Tim Duryea said. "It is probably that way in most leagues. There are other leagues where road wins are a little easier to come by than in this league.
"You've got the altitude at a couple of places, you've got great environments in a couple of places and teams that are so close to being even. Teams realize that and focuses in on home games and knows how important they are."
Read between the lines: USU must zero in on Saturday night's matchup when it hosts Colorado State and continue its successful trend against the Rams. The Aggies (8-9, 2-4) have won five of their last six against Colorado State (11-8, 3-3). Duryea attributes those victories to USU's ability to shoot lights out against the Rams in recent years.
"When you play them, you try and hold your own, and we have shot the ball really well," Duryea said. "The matchup has always been a favorable one for us, but I don't see a concrete reason that I can point to other than we have shot the ball really well."
The Rams are coming off back-to-back losses in league play, falling at home to New Mexico and on the road at Fresno State. Gian Clavell (16.4 points per game), Emmanuel Omogbo (12.9 points per game) and Prentiss Nixon (12.8 points per game) pace Colorado State. But the Rams will be without shot-blocker Che Bob, who has been ruled academically ineligible.
"You know what you are going to get when you play Colorado State," Duryea said. "They are playing seven guys in their rotation, which is a scary thing for a coach. But it can work sometimes in your favor, where your team's roles [become] so well defined. Guys know when they'll play and when they're not going to play and know that they are going to be playing every night."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Utah State vs. Colorado State
P At the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Logan
Tipoff • 7 p.m.
TV • CampusInsiders
Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 102.1 FM
Records • Utah State 8-9, 2-4; Colorado State 11-8, 3-3
Series history • Utah State leads 17-6
Last meeting • USU won 72-59 (Feb. 17, 2016 in Logan)
About the Aggies • USU has won five of its last six games against CSU. … Since being inserted into the starting lineup, freshman guard Sam Merrill has scored in double figures every game. … Senior forward Jalen Moore has scored in double figures in 30 consecutive games. … Moore is 15th on USU's all-time scoring list with 1,412 points. … USU leads the MWC in 3-point FG percentage at .429.
About the Rams • Coach Larry Eustachy is 98-56 all-time at Colorado State. … However Eustachy is 1-5 against USU. … Rams will be without Che Bob, Devocio Butler and Kimani Jackson. … JD Paige leads CSU with 54 assists and 21 steals this season. … Emmanuel Omogbo averages a MWC-best 10.4 rebounds a game. … CSU has lost back-to-back MWC games after starting 3-1 in conference.