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Show Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 Page 7 ThursdayS ports Homegrown recruits Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Glanc Aggie Schedules Men's Bball THURSDAY, FEB. 28 USU at LA Tech, 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY, OCT. 13 USU at UT-Arlington, 6:00 p.m. Women's BBall THURSDAY, FEB. 28 USU vs. LA Tech, 7:00 p.m., Dee Glen Smith Spectrum SATURDAY, OCT. 13 USU at UT-Arlington, 6:00 p.m., Dee Glen Smith Spectrum G mnastics FRIDAY, MAR. 1 USU at Sacramento State, 7:00 p.m. MONDAY, MAR. 4 USU vs. BYU, 7:00 p.m., Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Baseball THURSDAY, FEB. 28 USU vs. Santa Cruz, 2:30 p.m., Mesquite, Nevada FRIDAY, MAR. 1 USU vs. Western Oregon, 11:45 a.m., Mesquite, Nevada USU vs. Montana, 2:30 p.m., SATURDAY, MAR. 2 USU vs. Oregon, 2:30 p.m., So tball FRIDAY, MAR. 1 USU vs. New Mexico, 3:00 p.m., San Diego, Calif. USU vs. San Diego, 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, MAR. 2 USU vs. SDSU, 5;30 p.m., San Diego, Calif. USU vs. Fresno State, 8:00 p.m., A look at Utah State athletes shaped and molded in Cache Valley BY MARK HOPKINS sports senior writer Sometimes the greatest talents are right under your nose. Although Utah State student-athletes range from far and wide, quite a few hail from Cache Valley and close proximity to the school. "I was around growing up here and I liked Utah State a whole lot," said Jordan Stone, a center for the men's basketball team. "I went to a lot of games and just loved it." Stone, a sophomore from Smithfield, junior gymnast Christina Nye from Logan and sophomore tennis player Tanner Dance from Providence are three examples of local athletes who grew up around the university and couldn't say no to what it offered. "I got offers to walk-on other places, but there was always kind of a special place in my heart for Utah State," said Nye, who competes in bars and floor for women's gymnastics. "They were like my idols, so I always wanted to be one of them because I watched them my whole life." All three student-ath- letes named their relationships with coaches as an important factor in their decision to attend USU. "My family's from here, but also because Lukas Bouton was the assistant coach," Dance said. "He was another factor in me staying here. I liked his playing style and he was my coach during high school so I kind of wanted to continue with him." Nye said she grew up as almost a younger member of the team. "I practiced at the same place as the Aggies practiced, and so while I was growing up I got to watch them practice and watch them compete," she said. "My coach was their coach, so I got used to him coaching. I just grew up watching them and going to all the meets and supporting them." Stone said the coaches and atmosphere were big selling points. "Just growing up around here, the Spectrum's a fun place to play," he said. "I definitely wanted to do that. The coaches, altogether it was just a good option." Although Utah State was his only offer, Stone ► See JORDAN STONE, CHRISTINA NYE AND TANNER DANCE compete in their respective sports for USU. Stone, Nye and Dance each represent a high school in the valley and took similar paths to play at USU. DELAYNE LOCKE graphic LOCAL, Page 8 SUNDAY, MAR. 3 USU vs. Boise State, 10:00 a.m., San Diego, Calif. Women's Tennis FRIDAY, MAR. 1 USU at Arizona State, 1:30 p.m., Tempe, Ariz. SATURDAY, MAR. 2 USU at Arizona, 10:00 a.m., Tuscon, Ariz. MEN'S BASKETBALL Aggies set to face LA Tech in Ruston BY CURTIS LUNDSTROM sports editor With the regular season winding down, the Utah State men's basketball team hits the road for the final time for a pair of conference games on Thursday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 2. "Obviously, this is a big challenge," said USU head coach Stew Morrill. "Both of these teams beat us at home. Louisiana Tech is undefeated (in conference play) and nationally ranked. UT Arlington has had some really bright moments this year and are tied with us for fourth in the league." The No. 25 Bulldogs are 24-3 overall and are riding a 15-game winning streak. Sophomore guard Raheem Appleby averages a teamhigh 14.7 points per game but is the only player to average in double figures this season. Louisiana Tech has Track and Fiel SATURDAY, MAR. 2 UW Final Qualifier, All Day, Seattle, Wash. AP Tab 2 NCAA Basketball RK TEAM RECORD PTS 1 Indiana (64) 2 Gonzaga (1) 3 Duke 4 Michigan 5 Miami (FL) 6 Kansas 7 Georgetown 8 Florida 9 Mich. State 10 Louisville 11 Arizona 12 Syracuse 13 Kansas State 14 New Mexico 15 Okla. State 16 Ohio State 17 Wisconsin 18 Saint Louis 19 Memphis 20 Butler 21 Notre Dame 22 Marquette 23 Pittsburgh 24 Oregon 25 LA Tech 24-3 27-2 24-3 23-4 22-4 23-4 21-4 22-4 22-6 22-5 23-4 22-5 22-5 23-4 20-6 20-7 19-8 21-5 24-3 22-6 22-6 19-7 21-7 22-6 24-3 1,624 1,530 1,461 1,411 1,317 1,272 1,236 1,164 1,105 1,047 998 915 875 764 692 675 558 495 453 351 328 317 158 61 54 JUNIOR MARVIN JEAN scores during USU's win over Illinois State on Saturday. DELAYNE LOCKE photo EDINBURGH & HIGHLANDER six players who average between 5.0 and 8.6 points per game. "They play three 'five' guys," Morrill said. "They're just running guys in and out constantly, and it's hard to keep your match-ups. If you're playing changing defenses like we are and it's a couple possessions before you play man again, all of a sudden they've subbed in three or four guys and they're on the break. You have to really keep talking just to keep your matchups. They play 11 guys, 11 minutes or more and that's pretty impressive." The Aggies can run their streak of out-rebounding opponents to 11 straight when they travel to Ruston, but will face an athletic Bulldog team that ranks 21st nationally with 39.3 rebounds per game. When the two teams met Jan. 26 in Logan, the Aggies out-rebounded the Bulldogs 50-31 but suffered a 51-48 loss after their second half rally fell short. Appleby hit what proved to be the game-winning 3-pointer with a little more than a minute remaining. USU struggled late in the game against Louisiana Tech's full-court press, something Morrill said will be key this time around. "We were a little bit shaky. You can't be timid or tentative. You have to attack the thing, use your dribble," Morrill said. "A lot of times, the press-breaker is not Xs and Os, it's personnel. It's guys being able to make the right plays against the press. Our point guards are gaining confidence. I think they'll be better against it than they were the other night and probably better than they were the last time we played them." The Bulldogs are ranked second in the WAC in steals with 8.8 per game, as well as scoring defense having held opponents to 60.6 ►See AGGIES, Page 9 EDINBURGH Best of the Best • • • • • • • Single Student Apartments Private Bedroom and Bathroom Desk, Bed & Bookcase in each Bedroom Fully Furnished Laundry in each Apartment Modern Kitchen Facilities Cable TV with Jacks in each Bedroom • Living Room • No Parking Hassles • Air Conditioning • High Speed Wireless Internet Service in each Bedroom • TV, VCR, DVD 710 NORTH 700 A HIGHLANDER Accepting Applications for Summer and Next School Year For more information call Dennis • (435) 770-2326 • (435) 755 8525 • delmax@digis.net - 720 NORTH 700 EAST |