Utah State men's basketball: Aggies blown out by Bulldogs, start WAC season 0-2

RUSTON, La. — Utah State might still have the target on its back, but the Aggies can no longer be considered the favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference.

For the first time since the 2006-07 season, Utah State is looking at a 0-2 WAC record after getting blown out by Louisiana Tech, 82-60, Monday night on Karl Malone Court.

The loss casts all sort of doubt on Utah State's ability to win a third consecutive WAC title and establishes Louisiana Tech, now 14-2 overall, 2-0 in WAC action and coached by Utah native Kerry Rupp, as the new top 'Dogs in the conference.

"We're not very good right now," Utah State coach Stew Morrill said on his post-game radio show. "We're below average, and we've got to get better."

With Malone watching from courtside, Louisiana Tech dominated. Utah State (10-6, 0-2 WAC) started slowly, struggled to find energy and was never really close in the game. In fact, leading scorer Tai Wesley didn't score his first point until he made a free throw with 7:41 to play.

Louisiana Tech, like several USU opponents in recent games, pressured the Aggie ball-handlers on the wing and forced Utah State to scrap some of its regular play options. As a result, the Aggies made some sloppy passes, rushed some bad shots and didn't get into their normal efficient offensive flow.

"When that happens, you have to make basketball plays, and we didn't make plays," Morrill said.

"I think we're playing a little too tight. We need to throw caution to the wind and have fun playing basketball."

Monday's game was anything but fun.

Utah State couldn't hit much of anything as the game began — neither could Louisiana Tech — but by the time the Aggies finally began finding the hoop with any regularity, the Bulldogs were ahead.

Stymied by 30.8 percent shooting in the first half, USU fell behind by double digits and couldn't climb back into it after falling behind 34-20 at the break.

The Bulldogs were led by Magnum Rolle who had eight points and 10 rebounds in the first half. Kyle Gibson, the WAC's leading scorer, had nine points at the half as did Jamel Guyton.

"We started the game very aggressively defensively," Morrill said. "We just couldn't make plays on offense."

Louisiana Tech opened the second half with a statement-making 14-2 run to make sure the Aggies entertained no sustained thoughts of making a comeback.

Nate Bendall led the Aggies with 14 points and six rebounds. But no other Aggie reached double figures.

Rolle finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds while four other Bulldogs had 11 or more points.

The Aggies were beaten in virtually every way. Louisiana Tech owned the field goal shooting battle 53 percent to 43 percent and dominated the glass 40-27.

Utah State will limp home after the disastrous road trip and have a week to prepare for Hawaii on Jan. 11.