Hawaii: Washington State wins balance between Utah State and Utah State, 82-73
HONOLULU (AP) — Steve Ashworth was perfect from long distance, making three of Utah State’s 11 3-pointers, and scored 12 points in a balanced attack that led the Aggies to an 82-73 win over Washington State in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic on Sunday.
Utah State was 17 points behind the arc (65%), and 32-53 overall (60%), both numbers higher than what the Aggies achieved from the foul line, which was 7 of 15.
Trevin Dorius and Taylor Funk also scored 12 points each for the Aggies (11-2), Sean Bairstow had 11 points and Max Shulga had 11. Dan Akin shot 5-for-5 and added 10 more points.
Mouhamed Gueye was 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 22 points for the Cougars (5-8), while TJ bomba was 10 of 12 at the foul line and scored 19 point. Justin Powell also scored 10 points.
Washington State was 2nd out of 17 (12%) in 3-point range. It shot 24 of 54 (48% overall) but only 23 of 26 at the foul line.
Utah State shot 7-of-11 from long distance in the first half. With five players connecting, it took a 42-29 lead. The Cougars missed seven of seven long shots.
Washington State was within 50-41 after Andrej Jakimovski’s three-point play and Carlos Rosario’s layup on the next possession. However, that was the only time Washington State was within single digits of the end. Bomba scored at the buzzer for a 7-0 WSU win.
It was 10 points. Utah State then went on a 12-0 run midway through the second half. Ashworth hit a jumper at 9.34 to make it 73-51. Ashworth scored the game’s largest lead with a 3 on his next possession, making it 76-53 with just 8:48 left. WSU responded with a 9-1 before the final burst.
Washington State is back in Pac-12 play this Friday as No. 13 UCLA visits Pullman. Utah State begins Mountain West play when Fresno State comes to Pullman.
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