USU basketball announces MWC schedule

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball head coach Stew Morrill announced the Aggies’ 2013-14 Mountain West Conference schedule, following its release by the conference office Friday.

On their first Mountain West ledger, the Aggies will have nine home conference games and nine road league games as part of the MW’s 11-team, 18-game schedule format. USU will have home-and-home games against Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San José State, UNLV and Wyoming, while only playing Air Force and Fresno State once each, playing at Air Force and hosting Fresno State.

“We start off with four out of six on the road, which is an obvious challenge. Every game will surely get our attention as we are excited to try and prove we belong,” Morrill said. “I am confident that our fans will respond to the opportunity to see such great teams at the Spectrum and make our home court one of the best in the Mountain West. It’s an exciting time for players, fans and coaches.”

Utah State is entering its first season in the Mountain West after eight seasons in the Western Athletic Conference. Against current league members, the Aggies are 249-173 (.590) overall.

USU opens league play on New Year’s Day, playing at Air Force in the Aggies’ first-ever MW game. The Aggies hold a 10-2 all-time series advantage over the Falcons, last meeting on Dec. 30, 2000.

Utah State then hosts former WAC foe San José State on Wednesday, Jan. 4, in the Aggies’ MW home-opener, holding a 51-21 series advantage over the Spartans. On Saturday, Nov. 11, Utah State then plays at Nevada, as the Aggies have a 32-14 series lead over the Wolf Pack, last playing in Feb. 2, 2012 in Neveda’s final season in the WAC before moving to the MW.

USU returns home to host Colorado State on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Morrill’s first meeting against his former team. Morrill was head coach at CSU from 1992-98, before taking over the reins of the Aggies’ program. USU has a 49-34 edge over CSU, and the Aggies and Rams haven’t locked horns since Dec. 5, 1998.

The Aggies open their first of two back-to-back road game stretches at Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 18, as the Aggies maintain a 28-8 series lead, last meeting on March 12, 2011 in BSU’s last season in the WAC before joining the MW.

USU then plays at UNLV on Wednesday, Jan. 22, as the Rebels lead the all-time match-ups, 27-3, in the first meeting between the teams since March 2, 1996. Tipping off a two-game homestand, Utah State hosts San Diego State on Saturday, Jan. 25 and New Mexico on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The Aggies are 3-0 all-time against the Aztecs, last meeting on Nov. 24, 1998, while holding a 19-4 edge over the Lobos, last meeting on Dec. 29, 1979.

Utah State opens the month of February with a game at Wyoming on Saturday, Feb. 1, as the Aggies trail the series with the Cowboys, 43-23. USU last faced Wyoming on Dec. 31, 2008. Utah State then hosts Nevada and Boise State in back-to-back games on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 8, respectively. Morrill then leads the Aggies into a road game at his former coaching post on Tuesday, Feb. 11 when Utah State plays at Colorado State. USU hosts UNLV on Saturday, Feb. 15 before playing at San Diego State on Tuesday, Feb. 18, then hosting Fresno State on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the lone regular-season meeting between the Aggies and Bulldogs, with USU leading the series, 31-20, last battling the Bulldogs on Feb. 4, 2012 when they were fellow WAC foes before Fresno State joined the Mountain West.

USU closes out the second month of the calendar year at New Mexico on Tuesday, Feb. 25, before opening up the third month of the calendar on Saturday, March 1 at San José State. The Aggies conclude regular-season action on Wed., March 5, hosting Wyoming.

The Mountain West Tournament is Wednesday-Saturday, March 12-15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., featuring all 11 teams.

USU opens the season with an exhibition against Central Methodist (Mo.) on Friday, Oct. 25 and then host Adams State (Colo.) in another exhibition on Friday, Nov. 1.

The Aggies host USC in the season-season opener on Friday, Nov. 8, then host Southern Utah on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

USU men’s basketball season ticket renewals and new season tickets are now on sale. For more Aggie men’s basketball ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the “Buy Tickets” tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow the Aggie men’s basketball program at twitter.com/AggieHoops. USU fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

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