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State colleges: Boise State edges Utah State in overtime 88-83

Utah State guard Sam Merrill, pictured looking to pass the ball between Fresno State defenders on Dec. 7, 2019, in Logan, Utah, scored 30 points in a losing cause on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 as the Aggies fell at Boise State, 88-83, in overtime. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)

Boise, Idaho • Utah State led by 13 points at halftime, but Boise State surged back to pick up the Mountain West Conference victory 88-83 in overtime Saturday night.

Utah State’s Sam Merrill scored a season-high 30 points. He was 9 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 11 of 3-pointers, and made all eight of his free throws. Justin Bean added 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.

Utah State won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Broncos 39-32 but committed a season-high 18 turnovers.

The Aggies fell to 14-6 overall and 3-4 in MWC play.

The Broncos improved to 12-8 overall and 4-4 in the MWC.

Utah Valley 72, UT Rio Grande Valley 70 • In Orem, TJ Washington drove to the basket and dished off to Isaiah White, who then knocked down the game-winner with 1.3 seconds left on the clock to lift Utah Valley over UT Rio Grande Valleyat the UCCU Center.

Utah Valley improves to 8-12 overall and 2-3 in WAC play. UTRGV falls to 6-12 overall and 2-3 in WAC play.

“We’ve had so many close ones this season and it was fun to win one of those tonight,” said Utah Valley coach Mark Madsen.

Washington knocked down a three and then Brandon Morley connected on a layup with 9:41 left in the first half that helped spark a 12-2 UVU run over a four-minute span to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game, 30-28, with five minutes to go. UTRGV scored the only field goal over the final five minutes as the two teams played to a 30-30 tie at the break.

UVU took a 60-56 lead on a Washington layup with four minutes remaining. The Vaqueros then took a 62-61 lead with three minutes to play on a Javon Levi 3-pointer. There were then three ties and four lead changes over the final two minutes and 27 seconds before White scored the game winner for the Wolverines.

Washington scored his 25 points on 6-of-12 shooting.

Women’s basketball

BYU 65, Saint Mary’s 55 • In Moraga, Calif., Kaylee Smiler scored a career-high 19 points and Brenna Chase Drollinger added 18 as the Cougars defeated the Gaels at the University Credit Union Pavilion.

Smiler was 7 of 9 from the floor, including a perfect 4 of 4 from 3-point range, while also adding six rebounds and two steals. Drollinger contributed four rebounds and four assists to go along with her point total, and Maria Albiero added 14 points.

BYU (10-7, 5-2 WCC), playing without junior guard Paisley Johnson due to an ankle injury, shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range and used 24 bench points to get past the Gaels (9-10, 4-4).

Gymnastics

No. 5 UCLA 197.425, No. 15 BYU 195.875, Utah State 194.750 • In Provo, the Cougars had a season high point total while finising second to the Bruins at the Marriott Center.

BYU had its highest score of the night, a 49.150, on the floor as five of its six gymnasts scored a 9.8 or above.

UCLA’s Kyla Ross won the all-around competition with a 39.750 and stunned the crowd by earning a perfect 10.000 on her vault.

Men’s volleyball

No. 2 BYU 3, Mount Olive 0 • In Mount Olive, N.C., the Cougars swept Mount Olive 25-20, 25-23, 25-16 at Kornegay Arena on Saturday to improve to 6-0 on the season.

Davide Gardini recorded his first double-double of the season with 15 kills on a .591 clip and a season-high 10 digs while adding two blocks and a pair of aces.

Gabi Garcia Fernandez also reached double figures in kills with 12.

The Cougars will remain on the road with a pair of matches against No. 7 UC Irvine on Wednesday and Friday.