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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Forget that lackluster victory over Stony
Brook. Never mind last week's punchless win over Augusta State.
Utah (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today) forward Alex Jensen said a 77-42 defeat of instate rival
Utah State on Tuesday night offers a better barometer of where the
Utes stand as they prepare for Saturday's road trip to Washington
State.
"This was definitely better than victories against a Division
II team, a school playing its first season in Division I and
Arkansas State," Jensen said. "I guess you can consider Utah
State a major Division I program."
Utah coach Rick Majerus does. He pointed to Utah State's 2-1
showing in the Maui Invitational, where the Aggies beat Southern
California and came within two points of upsetting nationally
ranked Florida.
"They got my attention with the Florida film and the Southern
Cal film," Majerus said. "They've got some good players, and we
remembered how they kicked our butts last year."
Jeremy Killion scored 21 points, giving a 3-point shooting
clinic as Utah (4-2) came out aggressive on offense against the
Aggies (4-3). Killion made his first six 3-pointers in the first
half as the Utes built a 41-21 halftime lead.
"He was feeling it," said Jensen, who scored 12 points. "I
guess the guy subconsciously thought the ball was going to go in."
Tony Harvey added 12 points and Jeff Johnsen scored 10 as Utah
extended its homecourt winning streak to 39 games and avenged a
62-54 loss to the Aggies last season in Logan.
Tony Brown led Utah State with nine points, seven in the first
half.
Killion wasn't available for interviews afterward. Majerus said
he had exams coming up and needed to study. But Majerus said
Killion's accuracy grew from a plan to shoot aggressively.
"Offensively, the shots dropped," Majerus said. "We don't
look to be a perimeter oriented team, but part of it was their zone
and part of it was we wanted to be aggressive."
The Utes' 14 3-pointers tied a school record, initially set in
1994 against San Diego State and again in 1995 against Fresno
State.
Utah shot 73 percent (11-of-15) from 3-point range in the first
half, breaking the school record of 10 3-pointers in a half, set in
1993 and 1995, both times against Fresno State.
"Be aggressive," Jensen said. "That was our word for the game
and it showed. I don't think anybody held back a shot tonight. And
then it was their zone, too. A lot of those 3's came off only one
or two passes."
Killion didn't miss until late in the first half.
The Utes won with defense, too, holding the Aggies scoreless for
a span of 4:18 midway through the first half and limiting Utah
State to 34 percent shooting (8-of-23) in the first 20 minutes.
"It wasn't a whole lot of fun out there for the Aggies," said
Utah State coach Stew Morrill. "They outshot us, they outrebounded
us, they out-everythinged us. Mostly, they shot us out of our
zone."
Utah's last seven baskets before halftime were 3-pointers, with
Killion hitting three and Harvey making two. The Utes used the
barrage to extend a 20-13 lead to 41-21 at the break.
The Aggies extended their perimeter defense and guarded Killion
closer in the second half but the damage already was inflicted.
Utah State never threatened and trailed by 20 to 30 points
throughout the second half.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Utah State Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
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