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Brito scores 23 points, leads Utah State past San Jose State 81-63

Utah State guard Diogo Brito (24) celebrates with center Klay Stall after the Aggies defeated Boise State in an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/Herald Journal via AP)

San Jose, Calif. • Diogo Brito scored 23 points with six assists and five rebounds and Utah State defeated San Jose State 81-63 on Wednesday night.

Brito, a junior from Portugal, averages 5.6 points per game and had a previous career high of 16 points against Weber State last month. Neemias Queta, a freshman from Portugal, added 14 points with nine rebounds for the Aggies (13-5, 3-2 Mountain West).

Noah Baumann, who averages 8.8 points per game, finished with a career-high 29 points and was 7 of 10 from distance to lead San Jose State (3-13, 0-4) although he went through a 16-minute scoreless stretch in the second half. His previous career high was 23 against Northern Arizona last month.

Baumann scored 24 points in the first 21½ minutes of play, making six of his first seven 3-point attempts. His sixth 3-pointer drew the Spartans within 43-38 with 18:31 left in the second half. The Spartans’ Zach Chappell hit a 3-pointer a couple of minutes later to make it 43-41 but the Aggies went on a 17-3 run that proved decisive. Once Utah State had its 60-44 lead the Aggies maintained at least a 12-point lead to the finish.

UTAH ST. 81, SAN JOSE ST. 63

UTAH ST. (13-5)

Taylor 1-3 0-0 2, Queta 5-9 4-4 14, Miller 5-12 0-0 13, Merrill 5-12 0-0 12, Ainge 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 1-1 0-0 2, Bean 0-1 4-4 4, T.Knight 4-8 1-1 10, Brito 7-15 4-4 23, Porter 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 28-62 14-15 81.

SAN JOSE ST. (3-13)

Steadman 2-5 0-0 4, Barry 1-1 0-0 2, Chappell 3-11 0-0 9, Ivey 0-1 1-2 1, Baumann 9-14 4-5 29, Anigwe 1-2 2-4 4, LeCesne 1-3 0-0 2, Chastain 1-3 0-1 2, Hammonds 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 1-4 1, S.Knight 3-7 1-2 9. Totals 21-47 9-18 63.

Halftime—Utah St. 41-35. 3-Point Goals—Utah St. 11-27 (Brito 5-9, Miller 3-10, Merrill 2-6, T.Knight 1-2), San Jose St. 12-24 (Baumann 7-10, Chappell 3-6, S.Knight 2-4, Chastain 0-1, Steadman 0-1, LeCesne 0-1, Ivey 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Utah St. 31 (Queta 9), San Jose St. 29 (LeCesne 6). Assists—Utah St. 17 (Brito 6), San Jose St. 15 (Chappell, LeCesne 3). Total Fouls—Utah St. 14, San Jose St. 15. Technicals—Merrill.