LOGAN, Utah-Friday, Utah State men’s basketball hosts NAIA foe Eastern Oregon at the Spectrum to conclude non-conference play.
The 9-3 Aggies lead the Mountaineers of LaGrande, Ore. 1-0 all-time. The two squads last met during the 1941-42 season.
The Aggies have never lost a game against a non-Division I opponent and are 25-0 all-time against schools from the NAIA.
Utah State is the only Mountain West Conference school with a double-digit rebounding margin over opponents. out-rebounding foes by 11.7 rebounds per contest.
The Aggies also rank fourth nationally in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents are only shooting 36.1 percent (252 of 699) from the field.
Three Utah State foes this season experienced their season low in field goal percentage against the Aggies, including Saint Mary’s (29 percent), Northern Iowa (31 percent) and Alabama State (20.7 percent).
The Aggies average 81.2 points per game and surrender 65.5 points per contest.
Junior guard Sam Merrill scores 19 points per game and posts 3.8 rebounds per contest for the Aggies.
The Mountaineers, who come in at 8-8 and 4-2 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play, play lots of high-scoring games.
Eastern Oregon averages 87.5 points per game, while surrendering 84.6 points per contest.
Sophomore guard Jordan May scores 22.4 points per game and nets 4 rebounds per contest for the Mountaineers.
The Aggies’ Mountain West Conference schedule commences January 2 at Reno, Nev. against the Top 10 Nevada Wolf Pack.
