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Utah State finds out Saturday afternoon what the University of Utah and BYU already know.

Playing Utah Valley is no picnic.

The Aggies invade the UCCU Center for a game against the Wolverines. All-time, they are 11-0 against UVU, including an 81-55 rout last year in Logan.

Under second-year head coach Mark Pope, however, Utah Valley is no longer the little guy in the neighborhood who can't keep up with the big kids.

The Wolverines own a 114-101 win at BYU this season and, in an 87-80 loss at Utah, they owned a three-point lead with two minutes remaining. Earlier in the season, they also rallied from a 27-point deficit and defeated Denver, 88-85.

"Utah Valley is off to an impressive start," said Utah State coach Tim Duryea. "… Their ball movement is tremendous and they can come at you a lot of different ways. They have tremendous spurt-ability in the way they can score the ball. They play with tremendous pace."

The Aggies are 4-4 after snapping a four-game losing streak with an 81-55 victory over little Great Falls on Tuesday. Senior point guard Shane Rector scored 16 points.

Once again, Rector's play will be a key to Utah State's chances against Utah Valley.

"Shane has had some really good nights and has had some below-average nights," Duryea said. "… When his shot selection is good — when he is focused on making plays for his teammates — he plays better and our team plays better."

Rector is most effective when he can beat the defense off the dribble and get into the lane.

"When he does that," Duryea said, "scoring opportunities are going to pop up for him. That's the mindset that I hope he stays in and the mindset we need him in."

Against Utah Valley, Rector will be matched against Brandon Randolph. A redshirt junior who averages 9.9 points per game, Randolph transferred from Xavier, where he was part of two NCAA Tournament teams. In the Wolverines' win over BYU, he handed out a school-record 14 assists.

"They are two similar players, watching them on film," Duryea said. "They like to push it in the open floor, get into the lane, make things happen and can finish around the basket. They're both strong and athletic kids. That will be … a fun matchup to watch. I see a lot of similarities between those two guys."

luhm@sltrib.com Twitter: @sluhm —

Utah State at Utah Valley

P At the UCCU Center, Orem

Tipoff • 4 p.m.

TV • WACsports.com/Watch

Radio • 610 AM, 960 AM, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 4-4, Utah Valley 5-3

Series • Utah State, 11-0

Last meeting • Utah State, 81-55 (2015)

About the Aggies • They come off an 81-55 win over Great Falls. … In their only true road game so far, they defeated UC Irvine, 72-56. … Since 2000, they are 47-16 against in-state opponents. … Senior F Jalen Moore has reached double figures in 21 straight games. … Moore needs 16 points to pass Rich Haws (1,258) and Bob Lauriski (1,266) for 20th place on the all-time scoring list.

About the Wolverines • They are 3-0 at home. … They average 83.8 points per game. … They shoot 43.8 percent from the 3-point line. … Their top scorers are junior F Isaac Neilson (14.4), sophomore G Conner Toolson (14.1) and junior G Kenneth Ogbe (14.0). … In his second season as head coach, former BYU assistant Mark Pope's record is 17-21.