Vandals still winless in WAC

LOGAN, Utah – Jaycee Carroll tossed in 25 points and Nick Hammer scored a career-high 15 to lead the Utah State Aggies to a 74-56 victory over the Idaho Vandals in Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball action on Monday night.

Stephen DuCharme also had 11 points for Utah State (13-5, 2-2 WAC).

Idaho (2-14, 0-4) was led in scoring by Keoni Watson, who dropped in 26 points, and Trevor Morris with 12.

“Keoni played a great game for us tonight and Trevor Morris had one of his better nights defensively,” said Idaho coach George Pfeifer. “We just needed a better effort from our front line. We thought that was something we could do and it wasn’t there tonight. Field-goal percentage is something that is constantly going to be where it’s at until we can find a way to get better scoring next to the basket.”

The teams attempted a combined 48 3-point shots in the game, 33 of them by Idaho. Many of the Vandal misses led to fast-break baskets for the Aggies, who scored 16 points on layups and short-range jumpers in the second half.

“We had too many lapses,” Pfeifer said. “We are a better basketball team than the way we played tonight, I do know that. I don’t know about steps forward or steps back, we just need to be more consistent and not have as many lapses.”

USU also outrebounded Idaho 21-13 in the second half.

In the first half, the teams traded baskets until a 17-16 Vandal lead at the 9:30 mark. Utah State then went on a 14-4 run, keyed by three 3-point baskets by reserve Hammer.

“In the beginning of the game we were doing some positive things offensively and they didn’t do anything that surprised us,” said Pfeifer. “We just didn’t defend it very well. When you let someone shoot 61 percent you are generally going to be behind at halftime.”

Idaho stayed close in the first half thanks to 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field by Watson, but Utah State still led 42-34 at the break.