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Logan • Utah State got defensive Friday night.

Just in time.

Clinging to a one-point lead early in the second half, the Aggies limited Idaho State to only two free throws on its next 16 possessions.

Over an 81/2-minute stretch, Utah State used a 12-2 run to regain control and eventually score a 69-56 victory over the Bengals on the second night of the Vision World Classic at the Spectrum.

Sophomore guard Jojo McGlaston scored nine of his 14 points during the decisive stretch to help the Aggies beat Idaho State for the 15th straight time, going back to 1981.

Jalen Moore finished with 20 points to lead Utah State, which improved to 6-4 heading into its tournament finale on Saturday night against South Dakota State.

"We defended really well," Aggie coach Stew Morrill said. "If we would have rebounded the ball, our defensive stats would have been unbelievable. That's our biggest Achilles heel — still. If we get to conference and still have that problem, we've got major problems."

Idaho State collected 23 offensive rebounds in the game and 15 of its first 30 points came on second chances. But it wasn't enough.

"It's a win," Morrill said. "It could be a lot worse. We'll take it."

Asked about the play of McGlaston, a former starter who is now coming off the bench, Morrill smiled and said, "He played good in the second half. That was nice to see. As I told him, 'About time.'

Utah State got off to one of its best starts this season.

Darius Perkins buried a pair of 3-pointers and Moore's three-point play five minutes into the game gave the Aggies a 12-2 lead.

Another three-point play by Moore made it 19-8 with 11:12 left in the half and it looked like Utah State might pull away. But Idaho State scored the next five points and stayed in the game.

It was 30-24 halftime and 35-34 with 16:35 remaining before the Aggie defense turned the game in their favor. —

Utah State 69, Idaho State 56

IDAHO ST. (3-7)

Wilson 2-5 2-2 6, Solarin 5-12 1-3 11, Ezenwa 2-4 5-7 9, Magot 4-8 4-5 12, Hansen 3-13 1-2 8, Luzcando 1-1 0-0 2, Hall 3-12 0-0 6, Slavik 1-1 0-0 2, Bradley 0-2 0-0 0, Nakken 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-60 13-19 56.

UTAH ST. (6-4)

Perkins 3-5 4-4 13, Pearre 1-3 0-0 3, Collette 6-9 1-2 13, J. Moore 6-12 7-8 20, Smith 1-5 2-2 5, Noma'aea 0-2 0-0 0, Bolton 0-0 1-2 1, McGlaston 4-11 4-6 14, Harris 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-48 19-24 69.

Halftime—Utah St. 30-24. 3-Point Goals—Idaho St. 1-15 (Hansen 1-8, Ezenwa 0-1, Bradley 0-1, Nakken 0-2, Hall 0-3), Utah St. 8-21 (Perkins 3-5, McGlaston 2-6, Pearre 1-2, J. Moore 1-2, Smith 1-4, Noma'aea 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Idaho St. 45 (Solarin 10), Utah St. 27 (Collette 6). Assists—Idaho St. 7 (Wilson 3), Utah St. 15 (Collette 4). Total Fouls—Idaho St. 19, Utah St. 17. A—NA.