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Neemias Queta scores 14 to lift Utah State over Fresno State, 69-53

Aggie center also blocks five shots to close in on his own school record for rejections in a season

Utah State's Neemias Queta drives into UNLV's Cheikh Mbacke Diong during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah State, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Utah State's Neemias Queta drives into UNLV's Cheikh Mbacke Diong during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah State, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Fresno, Calif. • Center Neemias Queta registered 14 points and five blocks as Utah State beat Fresno State 69-53 on Thursday night.

With his five rejections, Queta moved to third in a single season in Utah State history with 58 on the year. Queta is chasing his own school record of 84 that he set during his freshman campaign in 2018-19.

Queta also grabbed five rebounds, increasing his career total to 696 rebounds and moving him to No. 15 all-time in school history.

Queta was joined in double-figure scoring by senior forward Alphonso Anderson with 13 and freshman guard Steven Ashworth with 10.

Both Anderson and Ashworth came off the bench for the Aggies as the Utah State reserves totaled 32 points in the game, the most since a 35-point performance against New Mexico on Jan. 8.

Queta capped an 11-0 run by Utah State midway through the second half with a layup to give the Aggies a 51-35 lead with 11:28 to play. Anderson’s and-1 with 6:45 to play gave the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 62-42, as the game never got any closer than 16 down the stretch.

With the win, Utah State improved to 14-5, 11-2 Mountain West Conference. Fresno State fell to 7-7, 5-7.


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