Utah State Aggies Diogo Brito Explains Flex, Clutch Play Against Lobos

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Diogo Brito knew he needed to get that 10th point.

His team was 28-0 as long as he got to 10 points.

They’re now 29-0 when Brito gets 10 points.

With the Utah State Aggies down 11 in the second half of their quarterfinal game against the New Mexico Lobos, it was the senior duo of Brito and Sam Merrill that led USU back from the brink of defeat. Brito scored a tough bucket in the lane with 6:25 left to go, then immediately flexed.

He knew he’d reached the benchmark.

“I think that was my 10th point,” Brito told KSL Sports’ Sam Farnsworth with a wide smile. “I had gotten blocked on a layup, and that was gonna be my 10th point. We’re undefeated when I score double-digits. So when I got the bucket on Vance [Jackson] I thought, ‘OK, this is our time, we’re not going to lose this game,'” Brito added.

m ▪️ o ▪️ o ▪️ d pic.twitter.com/FrYI2NiEPT

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 6, 2020

The Utah State Aggies Calming Influence

Brito’s influence started before the flex. With 9:38 left in the game, New Mexico’s Kurt Wegscheider made a layup, putting the Lobos up 57-46.

The senior never panicked.

“You start looking up at the scoreboard, and my job as a senior is just to keep the team calm,” Brito said. “Whatever happened, happened. Let’s just focus on the next play. Just keep our poise and eventually their gas ran a little bit out and that’s when we were able to make a push as well.”

The Aggies outscored New Mexico 29-13 the rest of the way, including two big three pointers from their senior leaders in the final minutes.

CLUTCH shot from @DiogoBrito24 to help send @usubasketball to the @mountainwest semis! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/4uDF1gjZk4

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 6, 2020

Utah State will look for more of Brito’s calming influence against the Wyoming Cowboys during Friday’s semifinal matchup. The Aggies and Pokes will play at 9:30 p.m. MST, and the game can be seen on CBS Sports Network.