Aggies’ Winning Streak Ends At Seven With Loss To SDSU

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Utah State’s seven game winning streak came to an end with a 68-63 loss to San Diego State.

Early on, it seemed that the Aggies, who hadn’t lost since Jan. 9, would roll to an easy victory.

Capped off by a 3-pointer by Sam Merrill, the Aggies took an 18-8 lead near the midway mark of the first half.

Final: @smerrill05 drops 35 points as the Aggies lose a tough one 68-63. We are back home Wednesday night against Wyoming.#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/qgIL10BoVi

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 10, 2019

The Aztecs then went on a monstrous 23-0 run to overtake the Aggies. In that run, San Diego State’s Nathan Mensah scored eight straight points as the Aztecs built a 31-18 lead.

Finally, Merrill converted on a layup to stop the bleeding. That layup kicked off a quick 9-0 run to cut into what was a 13-point lead by San Diego State. The Aztecs went cold to end the half, going 5:42 without a made field goal. At the half, Utah State trailed 33-29.

AT THE HALF

Aggies trail 33-29, with @smerrill05 leading the way with 20 first half points. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/RZWt0iHamF

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 10, 2019

Merrill had the lion’s share of his team’s points at the break with 20 points and four 3-pointers made.

He helped the Aggies retake the lead at 36-35 with a pair of made free throws.

Not much later, the Aggies suffered a cold streak of their own, going over five minutes without a made field goal, allowing San Diego State to take a 52-44 lead before Merrill snapped the drought with his fifth made 3-pointer of the game.

TO SDSU – San Diego State leads 63-58 with 1:54 to play. Sam Merrill @smerrill05 flirting with a career high in scoring, has 35 points (career high is 37) #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9r4N0G7bh0

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 10, 2019

San Diego State reeled off another run, this one for eight straight points. The streak was snapped again by another Utah State 3-pointer, this one by Abel Porter to cut San Diego State’s lead to 61-55 with less than four minutes remaining.

Brock Miller’s 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining cut the lead to just four. After a made free throw by San Diego State, Tauriawn Knight’s layup made it just a three point lead. That was the closest Utah State would get as the Aztecs held on for the upset.

Next Up

Utah State will return home to host Wyoming on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Earlier in the year, on Jan. 12, the Aggies defeated the Cowboys 71-55 to start their recently broken seven game road trip.