Dec. 20, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State jumped out of the gates fast to build a big early lead and was able to hold off Utah Valley as the Wolverines fell, 87-65 to the Aggies at the Gossner Foods Classic.

Ryan Toolson led UV with 19 points. Joe Walker had a strong day, scoring nine while pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. Jaycee Carroll was the Aggies top scorer with 32.

"We got beat in everyway possible," UV head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "The Aggies were simply superior. Carroll wanted to establish his turf from the tip off and he did."

The combination of Carroll and Tai Wesley helped USU jump to an early 12-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Utah State hit five of its first eight shots. The Aggies kept up the torrid shooting, opening a 20-advantage on a DeUndrae Spraggins three pointer with 11:35 remaining in the first half.

Midway through the second half, UV went on a 9-2 run behind seven points from Toolson to cut the Aggies lead to 30-15. The Aggies responded with five straight points followed by two straight threes by UV to put the lead at 14 at 35-21.

Down 44-24, the Wolverines finished the half on a 10-4 run over the final three minutes of the half to cut the Aggie lead to 14 at 48-34. Kevin Woods and Walker led the Wolverines down the stretch. Walker had nine points and five boards at the break.

Early in the second half both teams shot well with USU outscoring UV 15-11 in the first eight minutes to extend its lead to 63-45 with 11:59 left in the game.

Utah Valley will face off against Furman in the consolation game of the Gossner Foods Classic tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m. Furman fell to Northern Arizona in the first game of the tournament.