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Show £"£X VI i Nov. 2, 2007 Morrill wants urgency By SAM BRYNER senior writer "^fe uH^t-V.-i AGGIE G U A R D TAYLOR RICHARDS drives down the court during Wednesday night's 92-53 victory in the Spectrum over the Utah Pride. Richards scored nine points and dished out three assists. USU forward Jamelah Brown led the Aggies with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six rebounds and three assists.The Aggies host NAIA College of Idaho, Saturday at 5 p.m. TYLER LARSON photo Pride humbled Pebley said. "Everybody played." USU came out scoring in the opening quarter, netting six points within six minutes. Brown brought experience and leadership to the floor with Aggie women's basketball won its season opener 11 first-quarter points. in the Spectrum Wednesday night over the Utah USU junior guard Ana Perez was first off the Pride, 92-53. bench for the Aggies. From there, Pebley was able Senior forward Jamelah Brown banked a gameto utilize the time to identify the team's strengths, high 17 points, leading the team to victory. Junior she said. guard Danyelle Snelgro and "I was really happy with everybody," senior forward Jenny Gross both Pebley said. "We saw some mistakes netted 12 points. out there, but we saw some good things This exhibition game was and a place we know we can start from meant to allow USU a chance to and where we can build from. I feel like see rookie and returning playUTAH PRIDE 53 it's a higher place than where we were ers in action prior to the official last year." season, Pebley said. The game A team of former Utah college basoffered freshman guard Alice Coddington time to By ERIN WADSWORTH staff writer Game USU 92 score seven points coming off the bench. "We definitely were able to get some kids out there with some experience," Head Coach Raegan Hi See PRIDE, page 11 Aggies trying again for win No. 1 vs. Fresno By SAMMY HiSLOP sports editor One year and 26 days ago was the last time the Utah State football team did it. They won. It was a cold, Homecoming night at Romney Stadium. The 05 Aggies took down the Fresno State Bulldogs, 13-12. This Saturday at 3 p.m., after losing all 14 since that victory, the Aggies travel to Fresno, Calif, to try to do it again, but as an 0-8 team. To say the least, it will be challenge for USU to beat the Western Athletic Conference's third-best team in a place— Bulldog Stadium—the Aggies have never won in. The Aggies have lost 11 straight games on the road. "We know we're going into a hostile environment," Aggie Head Coach Brent Guy said. "It's a great place to play at Fresno State. (The Bulldog fans) are going to holler and yell at you. I told (the team) that on Sunday, that as soon as you start heading down that ramp, stuff will start flying. That's just the way it is, and that's part of the Fresno State environment." The Bulldogs suffered their first WAC loss last week, at home to the No. 21 Boise State Broncos. It was a game the Bulldogs led, 14-7, after Clifton Smith returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos went on to score 24 unanswered points and win, 34-21. \1 See TRYING, page 10 Different year, same result. Utah State lost its opening exhibition game, 86-81, to EA Sports Wednesday night at the Spectrum. This was the third straight year that EA Sports has beat the Aggies. With just under two minutes left in the game, a steal and emphatic dunk by USU's DeUndrae Spraggins gave Utah State an 8180 lead. Unfortunately for the 8,595 fans in attendance, those would be the last points of the game for Utah State. EA Sports went on to score six straight points and left the Aggies wondering what happened. "It looked to me like we couldn't guard anybody," USU Head Coach Stew Morrill said. "They're not getting the message. I've been _ u s u F O R W A R D G A R Y W | L K I N S O N (55)fightsfor trying to get to them loud and clear, but we re a r e b o u n d w j t h a p | a y e r f r o m ^ S p o r t s W e d n e s d a y n i g h L not getting it. Wilkinson led the Aggies with 18 points, six rebounds and four Utah State seemed to be in control of the assists. TYLER LARSON photo game late in the first half when they held a 42-33 lead with one minute left. However, and mature team." Morrill said the team can look at the loss two a Tai Wesley turnover led to an easy layup for EA ways. First, they were beat by a very good, experiSports, which started a 6-0 run to end the half and enced team that was just bigger and stronger. Or decrease the Aggie lead to three, 42-39. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ second, they got outplayed. "The end of the first half was a ^^^^^^^ "Anytime you get beat, you don't joke," Morrill said. "We had a pretty need to rationalize anything," Morrill nice lead, and we had the second said. "We just got our butts whipped, group come in there and just give EA SPORTS 86 and they out-physical led us, they outup stupid plays." experienced us, and they outsmarted Morrill said looking at the stat sheet is easy evidence as to why us. Morrill specifically mentioned* Utah State lost. rebounding. Utah State was out-rebounded 29-24 "They shoot 58 percent from the floor and 70 from for the game. The Aggies were able to pull in 12 the 3," Morrill said. "That will get you beat. I don't offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points. care who you play." Unfortunately, they also gave up 10 offensive boards The Aggies, on the other hand, shot 48.3 percent to EA Sports. from the field and only 30 percent from beyond the 3-point line. "We got to take it personally if we get out-rebounded—especially as post players," Wilkinson said. EA Sports was led by former Boise State star Roberto Bergersen, who scored 20 points, including After the game, there was one word thrown 4-of-5 from the 3-point line. Former Gonzaga player around that Morrill said will be key for the Aggies to Cory Violette chipped in 13 points. bounce back. Urgency. "It's a learning experience for us," Aggie junior The team hasn't had it, Morrill said, and they need forward Gary Wilkinson said. "We need to get betto get it if they are going to correct the errors they ter defensively, and I think that is what this game saw Wednesday night. showed us—where we stand and where we really need to improve." "They're correctable errors, but you better start paying attention. You're not getting it," Morrill said. Wilkinson led the way for the Aggies with 18 "I mean, you better start listening in the film room, points, six rebounds and four assists. Senior guard you better start feeling some urgency on the court Jaycee Carroll was held to only 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. "They had an idea on how to stop us tonight, espe[1 See URGENCY, page 10 cially Jaycee," Wilkinson said. "They are a very good USU 81 Brotherly love By DAVID BAKER assistant sports editor Kevin Robinson has been outrunning defenders to the end zone since he was a freshman at Utah State. But it wasn't until this summer that Robinson was able to win a race against a different opponent — his brother, Aggie defensive backs coach John Rushing. "For the first time, he was finally able to beat me at 35 years old, so I don't feel too bad;' Rushing said. "I wonder if he thinks he's still faster than me." JOHN RUSHING Robinson said. 1 don't know if he likes that (I beat him). I think he still needs to get in there and start training and we can get back out here and settle it again." The competition was a friendly -.;:. one, but it gets at a bigger question: Who's the best athlete in the family? AGGIE WIDE RECEIVER KEVIN ROBINSON returns a Is it Robinson, the nations leader in punt for a touchdown against Nevada. Robinson and USU defensive backs coach John Rushing are brothers, 13 years apart. Rushing all-purpose yards per game7 Or is it Rushing, the two-time All-American at was an All-American defender at Washington State and has been coaching at USU since 2003. TYLER LARSON photo Washington State? "I think I passed him up on being the better football player," Robinson said. "He's probably going to deny it, but secretly, I think he knows I'm better than him now. We may have to fight about that in a couple of weeks,but I think I got him now. "Depending on who you talk to, pretty much, my family knows I'm better than him. He'll never let it go and say, '(Kevin) is the belter athlete out of the family.' But we all know it's all me now, taking over." "Better offensive player." Rushing rebutted. "I was a defensive player, and 1 was a freshman and a sophomore All-American, not just a freshman All-American. So I've got more plaques than he's got." The kidding was all in good fun, because when it comes down to it, Rushing—as a brother and an Aggie coach—is happy to see Robinson doing well and playing hard. "I'm happy he's succeeding," Rushing said. "The one thing I'm probably more proud of than anything is that he plays hard every game. That's kind of something 1 did as a player and it's good to see him do the same thing as a player, just come out and compete every week, no matter what the record is or what the situation is, just come • out and give it your best every game." [I See BROTHERS, page 11 |