67-Point Second Half Gives Utah State Blowout Win Over Westminster

Dec 15, 2022, 9:41 PM | Updated: 10:15 pm

Utah State forward Dan Akin rises for a dunk in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum during the 2022-23 season.

KSL Sports

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State overcame a slow first half, outscoring Westminster by 26 points in the second half to win going away, 106-68.

The Aggies (9-0) hosted the Westminster Griffins (2-9) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, UT on Thursday, December 15.

The Griffins won their previous game, defeating SAGU American Indian College 77-54 at Behnken Field House in Salt Lake City.

USU remained undefeated with a 79-67 neutral site win over Loyola Marymount on December 10.

➡️ 𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪𝗪inning Team‼️

9⃣-0️⃣#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/fZYWwt0sqs

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

Six Aggies scored in double-figures in the blowout victory as Zee Hamoda came off the bench to score a team high 28 points. RJ Eytle-Rock and Steven Ashworth each added 17. Sean Bairstow had 16, Max Shulga finished with 11.

Dan Akin added 10 points, starting in place of Taylor Funk who missed the game with an ankle injury.

Taylor Miller poured in 26 points for the Griffins and Cole Kadoguchi scored 12.

First Half

It took two and a half minutes but Sean Bairstow put USU on the scoreboard first when he hit a corner three with Steven Ashworth notching the assist.

Averaging 10.8 made threes per game this season, the Aggies first three made baskets came from deep as they opened up an early 9-5 lead before the first timeout.

S3AN👌#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PzY5tHAjpO

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

A frenetic first half continued as both the Aggies and Griffins struggled from the field. USU shot just 37.5 percent from the field during the first nine minutes of action. Westminster wasn’t much better, clocking in at 41.7 percent shooting during the same time period.

Utah State did go 4-for-10 from deep to take a 16-11 lead.

Don't let @stevenAsh_15 get hot👀🔥#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/XcsIFjoDnQ

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

Westminster fought back, even briefly taking a 22-21 lead when Taylor Miller hit a floater.

USU answered with a 5-0 run to take a 26-22 lead. Zee Hamoda hit a three during the run as he scored five quick points off the bench.

Z33!#AggiesAllTheWay | @_zee_6 pic.twitter.com/0JHjRfzDwb

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

From there, Utah State seemed to wake up.

The Aggies went on to close the half with a 17-9 run to take a 43-31 advantage into the break. Max Shulga capped the run with a half court heave at the first half horn.

ICE IN HIS VEINS #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/wX3PVwKSIm

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

Bairstow led the Aggies with 12 points in the first half. Ashworth chipped in 11 as he started his third straight game in place of Rylan Jones.

Taylor Miller led the Griffins with 17 points.

Halftime from The Spectrum!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/x8P9GvIt9v

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

Second half

USU center Trevin Dorius opened the second half by finishing a Bairstow alley-oop with a thunderous two-handed slam.

DORIUS DUNKS💯😤#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/aRo9fIxcuF

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

Ashworth added a pair of threes as USU increased their lead to 15 with just three minutes gone in the second half.

USU’s lead ballooned to 23 as the Aggies went on a 13-3 over a five minute stretch. Westminster managed just one field goal during the run, a Cole Kadoguchi three.

Do it yourself then @OfficialRj_1 !#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/LwdGnJk0q1

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2022

An 8-0 run by Hamoda ultimately put the game out of reach. The sophomore forward from Bahrain hit back-to-back threes before a steal and coast to coast dunk put the Aggies up by 29, 80-51.

Utah State would end up outscoring Westminster 63-37 in the second half of a 106-68 win.