Utah State secures 6th consecutive victory, defeating UC Irvine

LOGAN — Upon snatching a defensive rebound in the final 12 seconds of Saturday night’s match against UC Irvine, Utah State’s Darius Brown II deliberately refrained from heeding the Aggie fans’ insistence to push the ball up the court for another basket.

Instead, the senior point guard leisurely dribbled the ball along the sideline, grinning as he waved off the fans’ request.

Brown and his teammates were content with their 79-69 win over the Anteaters, disregarding the fans’ hopes for a score that would’ve secured them free frozen custard from Culver’s restaurant due to a points requirement.

The hard-earned victory over the Anteaters (6-3) marked the Aggies’ sixth successive triumph (7-1) and their first game on their own court since November 14th’s win over Southern Utah.

“Once again, I’m really proud of our guys,” USU head coach Danny Sprinkle said. “They continue to find ways to win. (UC Irvine is) a really good team, and they’re not going to beat themselves. I played against those guys too many times. I know how tough and physical they are.”

Saturday unofficially marked Old Rivals Night at the Spectrum, with the Aggies hosting their former Big West Conference rival. Sprinkle also had the opportunity to face the program he frequently encountered as an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton.

Sprinkle also emphasized his familiarity with UC Irvine head coach Russell Turner and the Anteaters’ program, as they put together a 13-0 run to take control of a game that saw five ties and 14 lead changes in the first half.

The Aggies boasted a 51% field goal percentage, 8 of 24 from 3-point range and 11 of 15 from the free-throw line, in addition to outrebounding the Anteaters 33 to 28.

The victory over UC Irvine was a hard-fought battle with remarkable performances from Utah State’s Darius Brown II, Mason Falslev, and Great Osobor. The game featured strategic decision-making and a competitive edge that captivated fans until the last second, demonstrating the Aggies’ resilience and strength.