Carroll breaks mark in Ags' win

LOGAN — High above the floor at the Smith Spectrum, the name Grant is permanently affixed to the wall with a bold number 5 below it.

Sometime after this season ends — and probably not too terribly long after — it will be joined by the number 20 and the name Carroll.

For the sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 Aggie fans, there was one overwhelming reason to attend the game. And USU guard Jaycee Carroll didn't make them wait long.

Needing only two points to pass Aggie legend Greg Grant and become the school's all-time leading scorer, Carroll missed his first two shots against Idaho but saw his 3-pointer from the left wing bounce high, balance on the rim and gently roll in with 13:33 on the clock.

The crowd, as it has for virtually all of his previous 2,126 career points, erupted in thunderous applause and Carroll graciously acknowledged them with a simple raise of his hands in thanks for the support he's received during his 118-game career as an Aggie.

"It's nice to get that over with," Carroll said after a post-game celebration that included a victory lap on the shoulders of teammates Tai Wesley and Gary Wilkinson and a video tribute on the overhead video screens that lasted several minutes.

The Aggies beat Idaho 79-64 to stay undefeated in WAC play at 4-0 and improved to 14-5 overall.

"They did a great job of trying to make me feel special."

Of course, Carroll has been a pretty decent job in proving his uniqueness over the past four seasons.

Now with 2,147 career points, Carroll is nothing short of a living legend on the USU campus. Not only does he hold the school's all-time scoring record, the senior from Evanston, Wyo., has made more 3-pointers (316) than any other Aggie. He's also the record-holder in minutes played (3,977) and snapped a tie with Grant for most games started in a USU uniform.

He'll likely continue breaking records for the rest of his time in Logan. Up next is the record for double-figure scoring games — he's currently tied with Grant for that record at 105.

But with the bulk of the 10,270 fans chanting his name long before the game even tipped off, Carroll had one fan taking special notice.

Grant, who broke Wayne Estes' scoring record some 22 years ago, was on hand to witness the occasion and pass the torch.

"I can't believe it's been 22 years since I (played) up here," Grant said, reminiscing about his playing days.