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Logan • Don't be fooled by Air Force's so-so season.

Stew Morrill isn't.

According to Utah State's coach, the Falcons will be a major roadblock Saturday, if the Aggies want to continue their recent climb up the Mountain West Conference standings.

Air Force is only 13-14 overall and 6-10 in league play, but it has won four straight at home. The Falcons will also get an emotional lift because their seniors, including top scorers Max Yon and Marek Olesinski, are playing their final game at Clune Arena.

"As I told our guys," Morrill said, "if you make the mistake of thinking it's just Air Force, they are down in the standings [and] they're not very good, then you are going to get beat."

In their first meeting of the year with the Falcons, the Aggies shot 54 percent, including 13-for-23 from the three-point line, and cruised to a 71-59 victory.

Yon didn't play, however.

"He's an all-league type of guy," Morrill said. "Going into the year, that's what everybody thought about him. He's a strong guard who can really drive the ball. He's an experienced player that can make some threes."

Speaking of making three-pointers, how about Utah State?

The Aggies are 36-for-70 from beyond the arc in their last four games. Junior point guard Darius Perkins is 13-for-19 during the streak, when USU has averaged 79.7 points.

Morrill, who has already announced his retirement at the end of the season, credits the players for Utah State's obvious improvement.

"In terms of their work habits — in terms of their mental focus — they've tried to give you everything they've got," he said. "… I'll always be able to say this was a really good group to finish with, as a head coach.

"You like having kids [who] try and figure out what you're doing game plan-wise, try to practice hard even though practice gets old and try to focus on the next game. It's been just a great group that way."

Utah State (17-10, 10-5) takes a five-game winning streak to Air Force.

Besides emerging as one of the Mountain West's most prolific offensive teams, the Aggies' surge during the second half of the conference season can be traced to improved depth.

A liability in November and December, Utah State's bench that features senior Sean Harris, sophomore Jojo McGlaston, freshman Henry Bolton and freshman Elston Jones has become productive and consistent.

In Tuesday night's 83-65 win over UNLV, Morrill's non-starters combined for 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

During a one-minute stretch in the second half, Harris contributed two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot as the Aggies stretched a nine-point lead to 68-55.

"Sean is going to go in and shake it up," Morrill said. "He's going to be a bull and play hard. … He's a hustle guy. He's a garbage guy. He's an energy guy. A great leader for our team. It doesn't matter if he plays two minutes or 20 minutes, he's the same and, boy, that's nice for a coach." —

Utah State at Air Force

P At Clune Arena

Tip-off • noon

TV • Root Sports

Radio • 610-AM, 1280-AM, 95.9-FM, 102.1-FM

Records • Utah State 17-10, 10-5; Air Force 13-14, 6-10

Series • Utah State, 11-3

Last meeting •Utah State 71, Air Force 59 (Jan. 17)

About the Aggies • They have won five straight. … They have scored 51 and 48 points in the second half of their last two games (Fresno State, UNLV). … They are 6-6 on the road, including 4-3 in conference play. … As a team, they shoot 40.3 percent from the three-point line. … Sophomore F Jalen Moore is their top scorer (15.5).

About the Falcons • They have four of their last six games. … They come off a 75-70 win over Nevada. … They average 15.7 assists, which ranks them 19th in the country. … Their top scores are senior G Max Yon (13.1) and senior F Marek Olesinski (10.3). … Yon did not play in their 71-59 loss at Utah State on Jan. 17.