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Orem • Utah State coach Stew Morrill expected a close, hard-fought game against Utah Valley on Saturday night at the UCCU Center.
That's exactly what the Aggies got.
Down by 10 early in the second half, Utah State parlayed the play of Julion Pearre and a clutch performance in the final moments by Jalen Moore into a 50-47 victory over the stubborn Wolverines.
Making the first start of his career, Pearre scored all 11 of his points in the second half, including eight in a five-minute stretch when the Aggies got back in the game.
Meanwhile, Moore buried the go-ahead jumper with 24 seconds remaining before following with a steal and free throw that put Utah State in command.
"I'm not sure either team deserved to win that game, but we'll take it," said Aggie coach Stew Morrill. "Our guys hung in there when they weren't making shots, and that's hard to do."
Utah State prevailed despite shooting 29.8 percent. The Aggies missed 25 of their first 29 field-goal attempts.
"It was just one of those hard-fought, physical in-state games," Morrill said. "I've been in a bunch of them. ... It was a nightmare offensively. But we made a few shots in the second half and got to the [foul] line and squeaked one out. We'll take it."
Utah Valley bumped a 23-17 lead to 10 with two quick baskets in the opening moments of the second half. The Wolverines failed to convert three chances to extend their advantage, however, and Pearre fueled Utah State's comeback.
His second 3-pointer of the game with 6:18 remaining tied it, 33-35.
"Julion has been playing well," Morrill said. "He deserved to start. I thought he was really good in the second half. He made some big shots."
The game seesawed down the stretch, with Moore hitting the most crucial shot.
Taking the ball from Darius Perkins, he pump-faked a defender out of the way at the 3-point line and knocked down an 18-footer, giving the Aggies a 47-45 lead.
Moore had missed seven of his previous eight shots.
"I was just trying to call for the ball a little bit — trying to find a way to lift my team," he said. "I hadn't made a shot the whole game ... [and] I thought about taking the three. But I was like, 'I haven't really made one the whole game.' So I went to my dribble jump-shot and it happened to fall for me."
Said Morrill: "He was struggling making shots, like all of us. In the first half, he was really struggling. ... But Jalen isn't going anywhere on you. He's solid as a rock."
On the next possession, Moore's steal prevented Utah Valley from getting a shot to regain the lead. His free throw made it 48-45.
"We just needed to finish this game," Moore said. "We were on a losing streak ... and tried to lock down on defense after I made the jumper."
With five seconds left, Utah Valley's Donte Williams converted twice from the line after an intentional foul. But the Aggies' Chris Smith got behind the pressing defense for a dunk with 1.4 seconds remaining to ice the victory.
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State 50, Utah Valley 47
• Jalen Moore's scores 14 points to lead Utah State to victory.
• The Aggies rally from a 10-point deficit in the second half to snap a four-game losing streak.
• Donte Williams scores 14 points, and Zach Nelson contributes 12 for Utah Valley.