CRAIG KOHLRUSS
Utah State's Quinn Taylor, right, drives around Fresno State's Sam Bittner during an NCAA college basketball game in Fresno, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee via AP)
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Sam Merrill scored 20 points and freshman Neemias Queta had 18 points and 15 rebounds to help Utah State hold off Fresno State 82-81 on Tuesday night in a battle for second place in the Mountain West Conference.
Sam Bittner nailed a 3-pointer to give Fresno State a 67-64 lead with 8:22 left to play. Abel Porter pulled the Aggies (18-5, 8-2 MWC) even with a 3-pointer, added 1 of 2 free throws, Queta followed with a dunk and Brock Miller hit from deep 3 to cap a 9-0 run that gave Utah State the lead for good.