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Logan • Elston Jones' roller-coaster ride through the 2015-16 season continues Tuesday, when Utah State plays Boise State at Taco Bell Arena.

A 6-foot-9 sophomore center from Goodyear, Ariz., Jones started seven of the Aggies' first eight games.

After Utah State lost back-to-back games to BYU and UC Irvine in December, however, coach Tim Duryea decided to bring him off the bench. That was Jones' role until Saturday, when he started again in the Aggies' 89-84 loss to Nevada.

In the game, Jones matched his career high with 27 minutes. He scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds, but also committed six turnovers and missed five of seven free throws.

Still, Duryea will continue to force-feed minutes to Jones, primarily because he is Utah State's only low-post center. Other players who have spent time at the position this season — junior Lew Evans and redshirt freshman Quinn Taylor — are more naturally power forwards.

Evans played 17 minutes against Nevada. Taylor played one.

Through 20 games, Jones averages 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He shoots 49 percent from the field, mostly from close range.

"Elston has to get more court time," Duryea said. "He has to grow up a little bit for us. He's got to work on catching the ball in traffic and finishing in traffic. He's got to slow down a little bit. But he's our best option to score in the low post and we're just going to have to ride through [any] mistakes."

Heading to Boise State, the Aggies have lost three straight. They have fallen to 11-9 overall and 3-6 in the Mountain West Conference.

In the loss to Nevada, Utah State trailed by 18 points early in the second half. The Aggies rallied to tie the game, 78-78, but could not finish their comeback.

In the second half, Utah State scored 49 points and shot 55 percent from the field, including 7-for-13 from the 3-point line.

"We were moving, we were driving the ball and were making plays for our teammates," Duryea said. "When you do that, the scoreboard kind of takes care of itself. So it's frustrating when we don't move the ball or we get careless with the ball."

Defensively, Utah State struggled to contain one of the most inconsistent shooting teams in the Mountain West. Nevada's 89 points were its most against a Division I opponent this season.

"We guard at certain times — for stretches," Duryea said. "But we don't guard long enough. We don't guard well enough in key stretches. Our defensive consistency has to get better."

Problem?

Boise is one of the Mountain West's top offensive teams. The Broncos scored 45 points in the second half of a 76-61 victory over Utah State on Jan. 5.

"Boise State, as always, is a very explosive team," Duryea said. "They are hard to guard and they are very experienced. … It feels like the same guys have been there for about five years."

Twitter: @sluhm —

Utah State at Boise State

P At Taco Bell Arena, Boise

Tipoff • 7 p.m.

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 97.5 FM, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 11-9, 3-6; Boise State 15-7, 6-3

Last meeting • Boise State, 76-61 (Jan. 5)

Series • Utah State, 31-11

About the Aggies • They have lost six of their last eight games, including three straight. … They are 3-4 on the road. … Their top scorers are junior F Jalen Moore (14.9) and senior G Chris Smith (14.3). … Over the last five games, sophomore G Shane Rector averaged 13.5 points on 26-for-44 shooting (.591). … Moore needs 54 points to become the 37th player in school history to reach 1,000 in his career.

About the Broncos • They have lost three of their last five games, including two straight to UNLV (87-77) and New Mexico (88-83). … They are the No. 2 scoring team in the Mountain West (78.1). … Their leading scorers are junior F James Webb III (16.0), senior G Anthony Drmic (12.3) and junior F Nick Duncan (12.3). … Senior G Mikey Thompson leads the conference in assists (4.3).