Utah State Rips UC Irvine, 111-88

LOGAN, Utah — Jay Goodman scored 21 points and had eight assists in 24 minutes to lead Utah State to a 111-88 victory over UC Irvine in the Big West Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night.

Kendall Youngblood and Bryon Ruffner added 18 and 16 points, respectively, for Utah State (4-6). Youngblood also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Dylan Rigdon led the Anteaters (5-8) with 14 points.

Goodman scored five of the Aggies’ first nine points as Utah State took a 9-2 lead.

Goodman and Youngblood then scored five points each during a 12-2 run that gave the Aggies a 34-15 lead with 9:31 to play in the half.

Utah State led, 50-28, at halftime.

Brent Lofton gave the Aggies their biggest lead with 9:32 to play on a 10-foot shot that made the score 85-51.

Utah State Coach Kohn Smith used reserves freely during the second half.

All 13 Aggie players saw action, with 12 scoring.