For the third time since 2018 — and in its entire basketball program’s history — Utah State climbed into the national rankings under a first-year head coach.
The No. 25 Aggies (14-1, 4-0 Mountain West) travel to San Jose State (7-9, 0-4) for a Tuesday night game. New coach Jerrod Calhoun matches a feat previously achieved by Danny Sprinkle (2023-24) and Craig Smith (2018-19).
This marks the 11th season in which Utah State has been ranked. The achievement may bode well for the Aggies’ future success as they’ve compiled a 77-25 record over the years while in the Associated Poll rankings.
Utah State has rattled off four straight victories to open its conference schedule and has won four straight overall, as well (three coming on the road).
The Aggies’ only loss was a 75-73 hiccup at home vs. UC San Diego. Utah State responded with three straight wins away from home — a 75-68 victory at Saint Mary’s, a 67-66 upset win at then-No. 20 San Diego State and a gutsy 69-64 triumph at Nevada on New Year’s Eve.
“I give our guys a ton of credit to go on the road and win at Saint Mary’s and San Diego State and now Nevada,” Calhoun said after the last of those games. “We have real toughness and can win in a variety of ways. I give our guys a ton of credit. I thought our execution in the end was big.
“This was a hostile environment,” Calhoun added. “I got called a lot of names. It was fun.”
Ian Martinez (16.9 points per game) and Mason Falslev (16.8) pose a dual threat for Utah State’s offense. Falslev has been regularly filling up the stat sheet, averaging a team-high 6.3 rebounds to go with 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals. He also sports a 53.6 percent field-goal percentage, including 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
The Aggies will face a familiar foe on Tuesday.
Though the Spartans are struggling (having started conference play with four consecutive setbacks) Utah State transfer Josh Uduje has been a bright spot. Uduje, who earned the conference’s co-Sixth Man of the Year award last season for Utah State, leads San Jose State with 17.2 ppg.
Uduje has scored at least 20 points on eight occasions and scored in double figures in 13 of 16 games. He scored 18 in his team’s 79-73 loss at UNLV on Saturday.
San Jose State did make a game out of it against the Rebels after trailing by 18 points at halftime.
“I thought our guys really rallied and stuck together in the second half. UNLV shot the ball well, moved the ball well, and they have a premier point guard,” San Jose State coach Tim Miles said.
“In the end, we just didn’t get quite enough stops to get over the top. (It was) a good effort to hang in there and keep battling. I think there’s a true lesson to be learned in sticking together,” Miles said.
