Last time against Idaho, a (mostly) healthy USU team needed an epic comeback and overtime to pull off a win at home. With that in mind, one would think that this game on the road was a blowout waiting to happen, especially when you consider that Preston Medlin and Kyisean Reed combined for 39 points in that game.
No blowout for the Vandals on Thursday. Never even a lead for the home team. Utah State never trailed in this game, riding some stellar shooting and solid defense to the team's first win since the injury assault.
And no player was more crucial to that than Shaw! Going into the game, many might have argued that Idaho's Kyle Barone was the WAC's best big man. Anyone who watched that game would probably argue differently now.
Gone is the longest losing streak of Stew Morrill's tenure, and to add to it, the rest of this team has a quality win under its belt. If they earn themselves a sweep dance this weekend, they just might earn themselves a nickname. I know the "Elite Eight" has been thrown out there, even if it's a little over-complimentary. Also heard "The UnderAgs", which I like. "Eight Men Out" is one that comes to mind too. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Seattle gave plenty of fits to USU at home too, so we need an encore performance by the man in the middle against them.
For now, proud as hell of this team for finally getting a win through this storm they've been weathering. This underdog role is something none of us are really familiar with, but these guys are playing their asses off to make each game interesting, so seeing them come out with a win and representing USU is pretty damn excellent!
Let's bullet point everything else about this game.
NOTES
- Marcel Davis very well may have hooked up with a slumpbuster to trigger the game he had Thursday. He was finally back to his December form. He flew around, he made plays, he was confident with the ball, and just an overall constant threat. The team NEEDS this to keep up, and if it does, some pretty good things could be in store!
- Jordan Stone had what I think was the highlight of his career to this point when he caught a pass on a cut to the basket and threw it down with authority. He also had a nice little post move for his other basket. More of all that please!
- USU made as many field goals in the second half against Idaho as they did all game against Louisiana Tech.
- Also, if you had told me before that game that USU would only have nine assists and win convincingly, I likely would have responded with violence.
- 27 total rebounds for the team and Spencer Butterfield comes up with 10 of them. Dude is an absolute freak, and added 11 points and four assists. As much as I (and everyone else) am man-crushing on him right now, I'd be quite alright if he is in the role of Robin to Shaw's Batman if Shaw dominates games like he did Thursday.
- Tenale Roland had a stretch midway through the first half where he missed a shot he should have made, took a shot he shouldn't have shot, and committed an offensive foul to turn the ball over... It was pretty bad. His pair of 3-pointers in the second half were monumental though, enough to forgive the poor first half. Idaho was closing the gap, but he widened it right up. I dare say it should stand as his best contribution in an Aggie uniform thus far.
- Make sure you're sitting down for this one... Ready? Ok... The Aggies' bench outscored the Vandals' bench! The bench of three guys, one of whom possesses the scoring prowess of Matt Lopez (that person being Matt Lopez), and the Aggie bench still wins that battle! If that can become a thing (rest easy, it won't), this team will win plenty more games than anyone expected!
Player of the Game: Jarred Shaw
Can't argue this one at all... Shot 12-15 from the field for 27 points and nine rebounds. Jarred Shaw was everything this team needed him to be down low, dominating against another star in Kyle Barone. Whether it was asserting his offensive game in the paint or hitting that mid-range jumper he does so well, he could not be stopped offensively. It's the second game in a row he's been great too, and if this continues, things will be awfully interesting for the rest of the season.
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