Now this is a decent win

Santa Clara will probably be a middle of the pack West Coast Conference team at best this season but this is a win Utah State had to have. A loss in this one and ... well, we don't even want to go there.

Utah State 71, Santa Clara 65
USU: Barrage buries Broncos
The Aggies' Jaycee Carroll scores 25 points, including several Late baskets
Martin Renzhofer
Salt Lake Tribune
12/02/2007

LOGAN - Utah State's Jaycee Carroll can cut like a knife. In the midst of a close game, just like that, he leaves an opponent bleeding, wondering what happened.

Carroll cut deep once again Saturday night, and the victim was visiting Santa Clara.

Carroll made two three-point baskets within 30 seconds of each other in the final minutes to create the game's first double-digit lead, putting the Broncos in a deep hole.

Santa Clara (5-2) fought to within two, but had too far to come as an improving Utah State (5-4) claimed a bruising 71-65 nonconference victory that had the feel of a Western Athletic Conference tussle.

"Jaycee Carroll made three plays in a row," Santa Clara coach Kerry Keating said. "That is what we have to get to, to develop a level of toughness, to have a player understand, when it is time to make plays, you make plays."

and

This is a key quote because Utah State is known for DOING the knocking around:

"They knocked us around a little and we didn't know how to respond," Carroll said. In the second half, "When they pressured we went by them and attacked. We were a lot tougher."

and

This is the point guard production the Aggies must have in order to win:

Point guards Kris Clark and Desmond Stephens combined for nine assists, one turnover and 14 points. USU had just nine turnovers, two in the second half.

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