BYU Men’s Basketball Faces Utah State Wednesday

BYU Men’s Basketball Faces Utah State Wednesday

PROVO, Utah-Wednesday, BYU men’s basketball, sporting a 5-4 record, will play its second consecutive game against an in-state non-conference foe by hosting Utah State Wednesday at the Marriott Center.

This game commemorates the return of guard Nick Emery to the Cougars’ lineup. Per the NCAA’s ruling on his reinstatement conditions, he was forced to sit out the first nine games of this season.

While previously with the Cougars, from 2015-2017, he averaged 14.7 points a game, which gave him 1,032 net points and 172 3-point field goals.

In last Saturday’s 113-103 loss to Weber State, junior guard Jahshire Hardnett posted 24 points on 11-15 from the field, his best output as a Cougar.

Forward Yoeli Childs netted 31 points on 13-23 from the field Saturday for the Cougars. Childs continues to lead the Cougars with 22 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.

In his career against Utah State, BYU head coach Dave Rose is 9-3, including a 4-0 record at Provo.

The Cougars have won their last six games against Utah State and lead the Aggies all-time 142-92.

The Aggies come into this one at 7-1 on the season in what is the latest game in the longest series in program history.

Guard Sam Merrill remains the Aggies’ star as he averages 21.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. However, the Aggies have also had four different players score 20 or more points in Utah State’s 7-1 start to the season, under new head coach Craig Smith.

The Aggies have also proven selfless as they are 19th nationally in assists per game at 17.6, as well as 20th nationally in total assists (141).

Furthermore, all of Utah State’s wins have come by at least 17 points this season. Their margin of victory (20.8 points) ranks them 15th nationally.

Both teams push the tempo as the Cougars average 84.6 points per game and the Aggies net 85.3 points per contest.