LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball faced another tough night, losing to UNLV 86-76 on Tuesday at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. This marks their second consecutive defeat and the third loss of the season.
Utah State started strong, leading for over 26 minutes and at one point stretching their lead to 14. However, UNLV kept the game competitive with some crucial runs. A significant issue for the Aggies was their poor free throw shooting, as they made only 55% of their attempts (17-of-31).
The game began with Utah State scoring the first nine points. They hit five of their first seven shots while holding UNLV to six consecutive misses. But the Runnin’ Rebels quickly bounced back, scoring 12 of the next 15 points to tie the game at 12-12.
At halftime, the score was tied at 38. The Aggies came out strong in the second half, shooting well and taking the largest lead of the night at 58-44 with under 13 minutes left. However, UNLV responded, erasing the lead in just seven minutes. They finished strong, going 14-of-18 from the field and 12-of-12 from the free throw line, sealing the game with a 12-2 run in the final moments.
Utah State struggled on the boards, being out-rebounded 40-31, with a particularly poor second half where they were out-rebounded 22-14.
Junior guard Mason Falslev led the Aggies with 21 points and six rebounds, also contributing two assists and a steal. Graduate guard Drake Allen nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine assists, along with three rebounds and four steals. Freshman forward Adlan ElaminMJ Collins Jr. with 14 points, and junior forward Karson Templin contributing 10.
Utah State shot 44.8% overall, 29.2% from three-point range, and struggled at the charity stripe with 54.8%. In contrast, UNLV excelled, hitting 50% from the field and 84% from the free throw line.
As of January 2023, college basketball statistics highlight the importance of free throw shooting, which can often be a deciding factor in close games. According to a recent study, teams that shoot above 75% at the line win nearly 80% of their games. This underscores a critical area for Utah State to improve as they hit the road this weekend to face Colorado State.
UP NEXT
Utah State heads to Fort Collins, Colorado, to play Colorado State on Friday, January 23. The game starts at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on FS1.
TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season have sold out. Fans can buy single-game tickets for remaining games here. A waitlist for 2026-27 season tickets is also available.
FOLLOW
For more about Utah State’s men’s basketball, check them out on Facebook here, Twitter @usubasketball, and Instagram @usubasketball. Highlights can be found on their YouTube channel here.
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