Falslev scores 28 points as USU defeats North Texas and remains undefeated | sport

For the second straight year, Utah State started a game with a pretty abysmal offense. And yet, for the second straight game, the Aggies managed a second-half rally and finished the game with a win. This time the final score was 61-57 in favor of USU over North Texas.

Utah Sate didn’t miss 18 straight field goals like it did against St. Bonaventure, but the Aggies shot 8 of 23 in the first half against North Texas in the title game of the two-game NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament. Although there was another similarity to the Thanksgiving Day game, Utah State kept the game close despite poor shooting. The Mean Green themselves were just 10 of 31 from the field and only held a 25-23 lead at halftime.

Head coach Jerrod Calhoun said shot selection wasn’t the issue, which is why the Aggies had consecutive poor shooting starts.

“We have a clear view,” Calhoun said. “I’m not hitting the panic button. It’s not something we do offensively. If you look closely at the tape, the chances are completely open. So everyone will go through one or two shots on goal over the course of the season. You have to keep that.” shoot the ball.

Calhoun also gave North Texas due credit, saying it’s “one of the best teams when it comes to shutting you out,” and that’s certainly happened to the Aggies plenty of times, most notably 16 times (second-most this season).

Despite those first-half struggles, the Aggies managed to find some offense in the second frame, and Mason Falslev was the biggest factor in figuring it out. The second-year guard scored a career-best 28 points – the third game in his last four appearances in which he tied or set a new career-high in points – 18 of which came in the second half. Falslev shot 10 of 16 from the field himself, while the rest of his teammates shot 10 of 36 on the night.

Calhoun said that about halfway through the second half, Falslev asked for the ball more and Calhoun obliged.

“I was listening to one of our really good players,” Calhoun said. “And everything we called was largely for him down the stretch.”

Falslev’s most impressive individual score was when he scored six straight points for the Aggies, which ultimately gave them a lead they never relinquished. With USU trailing 42-40, Falslev hit two free throws to tie the game, while North Texas’ Jasper Floyd briefly gave his team the lead back with a shot to the basket. Falslev hit a 3-pointer while being fouled and completed the four-point play, giving the Aggies a 46-44 lead.

MASON FALSLEV. FOUR POINT GAME.

He has a career-high 26 points!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/3T9GwlbJnv

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) November 30, 2024

Falslev, who was recently named Mountain West Player of the Week and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week — and was also named MVP of this two-game showcase — remained humble in his postgame comments.

“We have a great team. We have a lot of depth and it just so happened that I was making shots,” Falslev said. “My teammates did a great job getting me the ball and making great passes…It’s not just about one player, it’s about our team and I’m just proud of them.”

Later in the game, more Aggies found their way into scoring and cemented the winning goal. Ian Martinez, who has been battling food poisoning in recent days, scored seven points in the final seven minutes. Aubin Gateretse chipped in on both ends with a rebound and two dunks that helped USU maintain a seven-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Throw it away, big man! 💪

⚡️ @Aubinoooo #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/vOr7KGLnHn

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) November 30, 2024

North Texas’ final push failed as a few putback layups weren’t enough to completely overcome USU’s late lead, but the lead dwindled to just three points in the final 20 seconds.

Utah State will return home for the next four games with its next game against Wyoming, marking the start of Mountain West play for the Aggies (however, four non-conference games will follow, three home and one away). .