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Logan • With an emotional opening week in the rear-view mirror, Utah State plays its first home game of the new season Tuesday night against Division II Adams State.
Last Friday, just 48 hours after sophomore center David Collette announced he was transferring, the Aggies scored a 73-70 victory at Weber State in Tim Duryea's first game as head coach.
"It was a much-needed win for that group of kids, our staff and our fans," Duryea said. "It was just what the doctor ordered. We made some mistakes. We need to clean some things up [against Adams State]. But our players … really answered the bell."
Said senior guard Chris Smith: "We had a lot of adversity going into the game, losing Dave. … But that just fired us up even more."
Collette was the Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference in 2014-15, but Utah State edged the Wildcats without him.
Smith scored 19 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting, and he got plenty of help from forward Lew Evans and point guard Shane Rector.
A transfer from Tulsa, Evans finished with 17 points and five rebounds. Rector, who played last season at Miami Dade College, contributed 15 points and five assists.
Without Collette on the roster, Evans and Rector will probably continue to play critical roles for the Aggies. Evans gives them an experienced inside player while Rector provides punch on the offensive end with his ability to slash to the basket.
Adams State brings an 0-2 record to the Spectrum, but Duryea is wary.
"They are an extremely tough match-up … because they play three guards, four guards and five guards," he said. "They are undersized and give you a lot of different looks. They are a tough prep and have a few players that could play at our level and in our league."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State vs. Adams State
P At the Spectrum
Tipoff • 7 p.m.
TV • none
Radio • 610-AM, 1280-AM, 95.9-FM, 102.1-FM
Records • Utah State 1-0, Adams State 0-2
Series • First meeting
About the Aggies • They come off a 73-70 win at Weber State in their season opener. … Senior G Chris Smith scored 19 points. … They have won 21 straight home openers, going back to 1993-94. … All-time, they are 33-5 against Division II opponents. … Assistant Louis Wilson is the former head coach at Adams State. In five seasons, his record with the Grizzlies was 95-46.
About the Grizzlies • They come off losses to Angelo State (75-71) and Tarleton State (84-77) in the Texan Tipoff Tournament last week. … G Shakir Smith, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., averages 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He's 9-for-18 from the three-point line. ... Coach Russ Caton played one season at Southern Utah during his college career.