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LARAMIE, Wyo. — Utah State found a way to beat Wyoming on the road 84-76 Wednesday night with a stalwart defensive performance.
"It was a gritty win," head coach Danny Sprinkle said.
The Aggies (21-4, 9-3 MWC), who ceded 43 points in the first half, outscored the Cowboys 45-33 with a strong second half performance. The Aggies' defensive effort was impressive overall; Wyoming shot just 42% from the field and 36% from 3-point range, as the Aggies tormented their opponent with four steals and a season high eight blocks.
"Our coach always talks about being the aggressor; and, honestly, Wyoming, in the first half, were the aggressors," said guard Josh Uduje after the win. "In the locker room we all rallied together and, you know, refocused on what our identity is, which is (that) we're a defensive team first."
The Aggies were outrebounded 38-32 on the evening by the Cowboys, perhaps one factor that led Sprinkle to say "their bigs kicked our bigs' butts … and that's just the truth."
Great Osobor, who recorded four blocks, scored just 10 points. "Great wasn't great tonight," Sprinkle said. Osobor averages over 18 points per game this season, but he's scored 11 points or less in the Aggies' last three games.
As a result, the guards were forced to carry the Aggies to victory.
Darius Brown II led the Aggies with impressive offensive numbers, scoring 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 shooting from behind the arc, while recording eight rebounds and five assists. Uduje, who came off the bench, added 20 points (8-of-14 from the field) in 28 minutes of play.
"Darius Brown was unbelievable tonight," Sprinkle said. "To be honest, we'd probably lose by 20 if he doesn't play the way he does. And Josh ... he was tremendous, you know, getting the ball to the rim, hitting some 3s, and giving us just enough confidence in that last 10 minutes to go and win it."
The Aggies road trip continues Saturday as they face Colorado State on the road, the final leg of the Aggies road trip. The Aggies will then play San Diego State at home in an attempt to avenge one of the Aggies' few losses. It is just one of two instances where the Aggies will play a team they have previously lost to this season — the other coming at home against New Mexico in the Aggies' regular season finale.
