Utah State basketball remains undefeated with a win against Iowa

Kansas City, Mo. — Mason Fauslev flipped a long 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and it fell in. The shot gave the Aggies a 6-point lead in the second half.

He did it again a few minutes later – albeit with more control – to give the Aggies a 7-point lead.

Those two shots didn't keep Utah State from beating Iowa to remain undefeated on the season, but they sealed the victory Friday night.

“We had a lot of guys,” Aggies coach Jerrod Calhoun said, adding that Foslev “was definitely unbelievable in the big moments.”

Fauslev led the Aggies (5-0) with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 12 rebounds in a 77-69 win over the Hawkeyes in Kansas City. Utah State handed Iowa (5-1) its first loss of the season and held its lowest scoring output of the season for the Hokies.

Ian Martinez had 13 points, six assists and six rebounds on just 6-of-15 shooting, while Tucker Anderson contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

Martinez was limited by foul trouble in the first half, and Fauslev said it helped the team adjust. The team managed to do that on Friday night, he added.

Iowa shot 5-of-26 from the 3-point line, as Utah State's matchup zone gave Iowa major problems throughout the game.

“We knew Iowa had never seen anything like this,” Calhoun said of the team's defense. “I think that worked tonight.”

Calhoun said the coaching staff watched all five of Iowa's previous games to prepare for Friday; And in that tape, he saw how important defending the 3-point line was to the Aggies.

“A big part of their offense is 3-point shooting,” Calhoun said. “So you really, really have to be able to guard the ball to take the 3 away.”

Utah State got off to a strong start, but suffered a scoring drought and was forced to play from behind for nearly the entire first half and some of the second half. The Aggies trailed 37-33 at halftime, shooting just 36% from the field overall.

But Utah State's defense was strong enough to hold on when it took the lead. The Aggies also shot better than 56% in the second half.

And with two big shots from Foslev down the stretch and a few other timely baskets, the Aggies would have picked up an important Quad 1 win early in the season.

“Our kids are winners,” Calhoun said. “They're going to find a way to win and they did that tonight.”

Utah State will play St. Bonaventure on Thursday in Orlando.