USU's Sam Merrill nets MVP honors and has big aspirations for NCAAs

Utah State Aggies guard Sam Merrill (5) celebrates by cutting a piece of the net after his team's win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the Mountain West Conference finals at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 16, 2019.LAS VEGAS — Ever since he was a kid, Sam Merrill has been a Utah State basketball fan with dreams of winning a championship and going to the NCAA Tournament.

That dream was fulfilled Saturday afternoon when he helped lead the Aggies to the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship with a 64-57 win over San Diego State. Merrill scored 24 points Saturday after getting 23 and 22 points, respectively, the previous two days and was named to the…