Overcoming a series of critical first-half mistakes, Utah State scored on Chuckie Keeton's two-yard touchdown pass to Swindall with 1:12 remaining to narrow Akron's lead to 23-20.
A holding penalty on the extra point added intrigue to Brock Warren's attempt, but he knocked it through and Utah State still had a chance. But Jake Thompson's onside kick attempt bounced quickly and smoothly into the hands of Akron's DeAndre Scott.
"… You've got to make plays to win games at the end," Wells said. "We didn't do that. We didn't do that early enough and we didn't do that late — all the way down to the onside kick.