Sioux Falls, S.D. • Behind a career-high 22 points from redshirt junior guard Marco Anthony, Utah State closed out its stay at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic with a come-from-behind 82-71 victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon.
Anthony paced four Aggies in double figures. Freshman guard Rollie Worster added 17 points, while junior forward Justin Bean and junior center Neemias Queta each recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds apiece.
Utah State went 1-2 in the tournament, while Northern Iowa leaves the inaugural classic still searching for its first victory.
Down 55-47 with 14:12 remaining in the second half, a jumper by Worster ignited a game-changing 20-4 run that gave the Aggies the lead for good against the Panthers.
Northern Iowa was led in scoring by AJ Green, who had 24 points. James Betz and Bowen Born each added 14 points.
Utah State outrebounded Northern Iowa 43-33 and has outrebounded every opponent this season. All-time, the Aggies are 53-10 under third-year head coach Craig Smith when outrebounding the opposition.
Utah State shot 46.4% from the field (26 of 56), including 41.2% from 3-point range (7 of 17), and 74.2% from the free-throw line (23 of 31).
Utah State limited Northern Iowa to 36.2% shooting from the field (25 of 69). The Panthers went to the free-throw line nine times, making seven (77.8%).
Besides his double-double, Queta also had four blocks. The 7-foot, 245-pound native of Barreiro, Portugal, has recorded at least one block in 15 of the last 16 games, dating to last season, and has notched multiple blocks in 35 games in his career.
Utah State opens the home portion of its schedule when it welcomes in-state rival BYU to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, Dec. 5. A tip time has yet to be announced.
Weber State-Dixie State cancel • The Dixie State University men’s basketball team will have to wait a little longer to make its NCAA Division I debut.
Dixie State’s season and home opener vs. in-state foe Weber State scheduled for Saturday was canceled due to a possible COVID-19 case inside the Wildcat program.
The Trailblazers will look to officially begin their NCAA Division I era at home vs. North Dakota on Wednesday.
Women’s basketball
BYU 67, LSU 51 • Shaylee Gonzales scored 30 points and the Cougars (1-0) defeated the Tigers in the South Point Shootout at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gonzales made 11 of 14 shots, including 6 of 7 from behind the 3-point line.
Paisley Harding added 13 points for the Cougars.
BYU’s Lauren Gustin chipped in with 14 rebounds to go along with six points.
BYU faces Washington at 7:30 p.m. MST Saturday in the Shootout.