Utah State's David Collette blocks a shot by Nevada's AJ West during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Herald Journal, John Zsiray)
LOGAN, Utah — Chris Smith scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting to lead four Aggies in double figures as Utah State ran past Nevada 75-62 Tuesday night.
Jalen Moore had 17, David Collette 14 and Julion Pearre added 12 for USU (14-10, 7-5 Mountain West Conference).
Eric Cooper led Nevada (7-16, 3-8) with 14 points, Tyron Criswell added 12 and A.J. West scored 10 and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. West scored in double figures for 13th consecutive time finishing with 10 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. It is the 16th time he posted a game high in rebounds and 18th time he led the Pack in rebounding.
USU went on an 11-1 run early in the second half, extending to 58-39 on a 3-pointer by Moore with 14:45 to play. Mixing defenses, USU was able to keep Nevada out of the paint, holding the Wolfpack to 12 points inside. Ten turnovers by the Wolfpack helped the Aggies, as did five blocks by USU in the second half, nine in the game. Moore opened with seven straight points and USU led throughout the first half. Nevada closed to within 20-19 on a 3-pointer by Michael Perez with 10:20 to play, but couldn’t get any closer. Pearre hit back-to-back 3s to give USU a 42-33 halftime edge.
Utah State is 18-3 against Nevada in Logan, winning 13 of the last 14 contests.
NOTES: Nevada hosts New Mexico on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 ... Junior Marqueze Coleman dished out a career-high seven assists tonight and scored nine points...Cooper made his sixth consecutive start and led the Pack in scoring. It is the fourth time he led the team in scoring and fifth time in the six starts he reached double figures...Tyron Criswell also made his sixth consecutive start and has scored in double figures in five of the contests...Nevada outrebounded the Aggies 33-20. It is the 15th time the Pack won the rebounding battle and ninth time by double figures...Head coach David Carter is now 96-91 in his sixth season at Nevada and 16-29 in his third season of MW play.