Utah State basektball: Bendall appears OK after hospital trip

LOGAN — The worst news Utah State basketball coach Stew Morrill got from his road swing to Boston wasn't necessarily the 64-61 loss to Northeastern Saturday morning.

While that was hardly the outcome the Aggies hoped for, it became a secondary concern when USU junior post player Nate Bendall was forced to make an unexpected trip to a Boston hospital after experiencing an elevated heart rate well after the Aggies and Huskies finished playing.

On Monday, Morrill said Bendall's condition appears to be OK, but the former Skyline High and SLCC star was undergoing testing in Logan and his availability for tonight's game against Idaho State was unknown.

"They're running tests as we speak," Morrill said Monday morning. "We're hopeful, but we don't know his status yet."

The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder has been a bright spot in USU's rough start. He's averaging 13.3 points and 8 rebounds per game.

If he's unable to suit up and play tonight, however, the Aggies will make another change to the starting lineup just after one starter, Pooh Williams, returned to action.

"I prefer to not anticipate problems before you've got them," Morrill said about who might start in Bendall's place. "If he can't go, we'll go from there."

The most likely candidates would be junior Matt Formisano (6-8, 240) or sophomore Brady Jardine (6-7, 220) with Tai Wesley manning the other post position and Modou Niang seeing a few more minutes than usual.

Williams, who missed both exhibition games and the first two regular season games of the season, returned to the lineup as a reserve at Northeastern — playing just nine minutes.

"He had one day of practice," Morrill said of Williams, who had surgery to place screws in a pre-stress fracture of his foot before fall practices began. "I saw exactly what I expected ... he's out of shape."

The Aggies, who will be playing their home opener after three straight road games to open the season, might have the crazies that inhabit the Spectrum on their side tonight, but will again be road weary. USU left Boston Saturday afternoon but had its non-stop flight to Salt Lake City altered to a layover in Atlanta. The 13-hour trip left the team worn out Sunday.

Idaho State, is also tired of travel. The Bengals have been to Iowa State, Bradley and BYU before hosting Colorado Christian.

"I'm impressed with their team," Morrill said. "I think they are better than the team we played last year."

Though Utah State started the season with three road games, tonight's tipoff represents the first of five straight home games and nine of 11 at the Spectrum where the Aggies have won 34 in a row.

Aggies on the air

Utah State (1-2) vs. Idaho State (1-3)

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Smith Spectrum, Logan

TV: none

Radio: 610 AM, 1230 AM, 95.9 FM

e-mail: jeborn@desnews.com