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Logan • Their climb out of the Mountain West Conference cellar started Saturday night — at least they hope. Back home in the friendly, but raucous confines of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, the Utah State Aggies (9-11, 3-6) snapped a four-game losing streak by beating visiting Fresno State 78-65.

And the usual suspects stepped up when the moment demanded it.

Senior Jalen Moore (17 points) and freshman Koby McEwen (22 points and eight rebounds) methodically picked apart one of the top defensive teams in the MWC late in the second half, but it was sophomore forward Norbert Janicek (14 points and eight rebounds) and senior guard Shane Rector (14 points off the bench) who provided that necessary extra punch to give the Aggies their first win in three weeks.

"This game was huge for us," Janicek said. "We all have a good feeling about this."

USU's most stifling defensive performance of the conference season luckily overshadowed a game that featured 19 turnovers. But when the Aggies needed a play to be made, it was McEwen who, once again, didn't shy away. After shaking free of a Fresno State defender, the freshman calmly sank a 3-pointer and pumped up the USU crowd to quell a quick Bulldog scoring run.

Later on, the USU guard split two Bulldogs with a spin move and fooled the one who followed by making an awkward step on his right foot near the hoop and laying it in for two. As the Spectrum roared, McEwen just smiled and handed the ball right to the official on the sideline as the Aggies took a 56-44 lead late.

"Koby made six shots tonight — I would say about four of them you can't coach, you can't teach," USU coach Tim Duryea said. "You just try and stay out of his way, and not be a hindrance."

McEwen later even one-upped himself.

With defenders draped over him a few feet inside half court, McEwen wiggled free from the trap attempt and took a off-balanced 3-pointer as the shot clock nearly expired. The shot fell in to put USU up 66-53 with 2:30 remaining. McEwen turned to the USU student section, pounding his chest as the home crowd celebrated.

"It was just my instincts taking over," he said.

Sloppiness set in often for the Aggies Saturday night, but the defensive effort bailed out the offense. USU had five turnovers in four minutes, which allowed Fresno State to creep within one point when Bulldog guard Deshon Taylor drained a 3-pointer. Thanks to two free throws from freshman Sam Merrill, a steal by Alex Dargenton and an acrobatic layup by McEwen, the Aggies responded with a quick 6-0 run in a 57-second span, to go up 43-36.

"If you don't guard, you don't deserve to win," McEwen said. "That was really it. Our defense was really on it."

The Bulldogs gave Utah State several shots to build a hefty first-half lead, but the Aggies couldn't capitalize. Fresno State, the most efficient offensive team in the MWC, shot just 30 percent (8-of-26) from the field in the first half. A deep straightaway 3-pointer from McEwen gave the Aggies a 23-16 lead with less than five minutes, but both teams ended the first half struggling from the floor.

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Utah St. 78, Fresno St. 65

FRESNO ST. (13-8)

Williams 6-11 6-8 18, Bittner 0-3 0-0 0, J.Taylor 1-7 0-1 3, D.Taylor 4-10 12-16 21, Watson 3-9 0-2 6, Edo 1-6 0-0 2, Russo 0-4 0-3 0, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, McWilliams 0-0 0-0 0, Hopkins 6-10 3-4 15. Totals 21-60 21-34 65.

UTAH ST. (9-11)

Dargenton 0-1 0-0 0, Janicek 6-9 2-5 14, Moore 5-9 6-6 17, Merrill 1-2 2-2 5, McEwen 6-7 7-8 22, Q.Taylor 2-2 2-4 6, Barnaba 0-1 0-0 0, Brito 0-3 0-0 0, Rector 2-3 10-14 14, Pearre 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-39 29-39 78.

Halftime—Utah St. 27-23. 3-Point Goals—Fresno St. 2-18 (D.Taylor 1-4, J.Taylor 1-5, Edo 0-2, Russo 0-2, Bittner 0-2, Watson 0-3), Utah St. 5-11 (McEwen 3-4, Merrill 1-1, Moore 1-3, Brito 0-1, Rector 0-1, Barnaba 0-1). Fouled Out—J.Taylor, Williams, Hopkins. Rebounds—Fresno St. 26 (Watson 7), Utah St. 38 (Janicek, Merrill, McEwen 8). Assists—Fresno St. 10 (Watson 3), Utah St. 13 (Merrill 5). Total Fouls—Fresno St. 28, Utah St. 25.

Mountain West standings

Conference Overall

W L W L

Nevada 7 2 18 4 Boise St. 6 3 13 7 Colorado St. 6 3 14 8

New Mexico 6 4 13 9

Fresno St. 5 4 13 8

Wyoming 4 5 14 8

San Diego St. 3 5 11 9

Air Force 3 5 10 11 San Jose St. 3 6 10 10

Utah St. 3 6 10 11

UNLV 3 6 10 12

Saturday's games

Nevada 82, New Mexico 65

San Jose St. 76, UNLV 72

Boise St. 80, Wyoming 65

Colorado St. 78, San Diego St. 77

Utah St. 78, Fresno St. 65