Utah State knocks off Boise State to make MWC semiflnals for the first time

LAS VEGAS — For the first time ever, the Utah State basketball team is headed to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament after the Aggies knocked off favored Boise State 78-75 Thursday night at Thomas & Mack Center.

The Aggies (17-16) came back from another slow start — they trailed by as many as 13 in the first half against the league’s No. 2 seed — to advance to Friday’s semis where they’ll take on New Mexico/Wyoming at 9:30 p.m MT.

The Aggies, who had come from behind to beat Colorado State in the first round, got a terrific performance from Sam Merrill, a sophomore guard from Bountiful, who scored a game-high 28 points with 7 of 10 from 3-point range. Merrill hit the…