Projected Starters:
Utah State (14-9, 4-7 Mountain West)
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| Pos. | Height/Weight | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | |
| G | Preston Medlin | 6’4/185 | 13.5 | 2.7 | 4.3 |
| G | Spencer Butterfield | 6’3/205 | 13.3 | 6.1 | 2.5 |
| F | Jalen Moore | 6’7/190 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 0.8 |
| F | Kyle Davis | 6’7/225 | 9.8 | 7.9 | 1.4 |
| C | Jarred Shaw | 6’10/235 | 14.8 | 7.9 | 0.7 |
Colorado State (14-10, 5-6 Mountain West)
|
Pos. |
Height/Weight | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | |
| G | Jon Octeus | 6’4/170 | 12.5 | 4.3 | 2.3 |
| G | Joe De Ciman | 6/4/185 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 1.3 |
| F | Daniel Bejarano | 6/4/202 | 15.6 | 8.5 | 3.2 |
| F | JJ Avila | 6’7/246 | 17.4 | 7.9 | 3.3 |
| C | Gerson Santo | 6’9/238 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 0.4 |
History: The Rams welcome the Utah State Aggies into Moby Arena on Tuesday night for the first time since January 3rd, 1998. On the other hand, this will be a familiar match-up for head coaches Larry Eustachy and Stew Morrill. Eustachy was the Aggies’ head coach from 1994-98 before leaving to coach at Iowa State. He was subsequently replaced at Utah State by Morrill who left Colorado State to coach the Aggies after seven seasons in Fort Collins.
Analysis: The Aggies beat CSU 57-50 at the Smith Spectrum on January 15th in a game where JJ Avila and Daniel Bejarano combined for 41 of the team’s 50 points. However, guards Jon Octeus and Joe De Ciman have found a rhythm recently, combining to average 23.8 points per contest in their last six games. The Rams will need a balanced scoring effort in this one to counteract Utah State double-double machine Jarred Shaw and 3-point sharpshooters Preston Medlin (47%) and Spencer Butterfield (47%)
Eustachy on the Aggies: “This is a team that uses a lot of screens, big guys screen for guards, guards screening for big guys and a lot of ball screens too. Their offense sets them up for a lot of easy baskets if you don’t defend it well which we didn’t do the first time. Offensively we just have to work hard to get better shots than what we’ve been taking regardless of what kind of defense they play against us.
Predictions:
Keegan Pope (Collegian Sports Reporter) CSU 65, Utah State 60
Hannah Cornish (Collegian Sports Reporter) CSU 76, Utah State 68
Keith Albertson (CTV Sports Anchor) CSU 80, Utah State 64
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Steven Starcer (KCSU Sports Anchor) CSU 66, Utah State 61
