SportsDecember 25, 2022
Staff, Wire Reports
Washington State junior guard Justin Powell shoots during Sunday's Diamond Head Classic third-place game against Utah State at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.
Washington State junior guard Justin Powell shoots during Sunday's Diamond Head Classic third-place game against Utah State at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.WSU Athletics

HONOLULU — Steve Ashworth was perfect from long distance, making three of Utah State’s 11 3-pointers, and scored 12 points in a balanced attack that led the Aggies to an 82-73 win Sunday against Washington State in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii.

Utah State was 11-of-17 behind the arc (64.7%) and 32-for-53 overall (60.4%), both numbers better than the Aggies managed from the foul line, where they were 7-of-15.

"Utah State has got some experience, good ballhandling and a really good offensive team. It's really hard to beat anyone who goes 11-for-17 from 3. We kept competing until the end, and I'm really proud of the guys for that. A hat tip to Utah State. They're really, really good."

Taylor Funk and Trevin Dorius also had 12 points apiece for the Aggies (11-2), Sean Bairstow and Max Shulga each had 11 and Dan Akin was 5-for-5 shooting and added 10 points.

Sophomore forward Mouhamed Gueye scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Cougars (5-8). Junior guard TJ Bamba was 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 19 points. Junior guard Justin Powell added 10 points.

"That's a testament to them keeping on grinding and keep getting better," Smith said. "Hopefully we can get back home and get some confidence."

Washington State was 2-of-17 (11.8%) from 3-point range and shot 24-of-54 (44.4%) overall but was 23-of-26 (88.5%) from the foul line.

Utah State was 7-of-11 shooting from long range in the first half with five different players connection, to take a 42-29 lead. The Cougars missed all seven of their shots from distance.

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A three-point play by junior forward Andrej Jakimovski and a layup by junior forward Carlos Rosario on the next possession had Washington State within 50-41 but that was the only time the difference was in single digits in the second half until Bamba scored at the buzzer to cap a 7-0 WSU finish.

The difference was 10 until Utah State went on a 12-0 run in the middle of the second half, with Ashworth hitting at jumper at 9:34 to make it 73-51. Ashworth hit a 3 on the next possession for the biggest lead of the game, 76-53, with 8:48 to play. WSU answered with a 9-0 before the closing burst.

Washington State next plays at 8 p.m. Friday at home against UCLA.

UTAH ST. (11-2)

Funk 5-10 0-0 12, Dorius 4-6 4-6 12, Bairstow 4-8 1-4 11, Jones 4-7 0-1 9, Shulga 4-6 1-1 11, Ashworth 4-6 1-2 12, Akin 5-5 0-1 10, Eytle-Rock 1-1 0-0 3, Hamoda 0-3 0-0 0, Zapala 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 32-53 7-15 82.

WASHINGTON ST. (5-8)

Gueye 9-15 4-4 22, Rodman 2-3 2-3 6, Bamba 4-12 10-12 19, Houinsou 1-2 2-2 4, Powell 3-9 4-4 10, Rosario 3-4 0-0 7, Jakimovski 1-4 1-1 3, Mullins 0-3 0-0 0, Darling 1-2 0-0 2, B.Korpela 0-0 0-0 0, Diongue 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 23-26 73.

Halftime: Utah St., 42-29. 3-Point Goals: Utah St. 11-17 (Ashworth 3-3, Bairstow 2-3, Shulga 2-3, Funk 2-5, Eytle-Rock 1-1, Jones 1-2), Washington St. 2-17 (Rosario 1-1, Bamba 1-5, Darling 0-1, Gueye 0-1, Rodman 0-1, Jakimovski 0-2, Mullins 0-2, Powell 0-4). Rebounds: Utah St. 24 (Bairstow 5), Washington St. 26 (Gueye 12). Assists: Utah St. 21 (Ashworth 5), Washington St. 8 (Bamba 4). Total Fouls: Utah St. 21, Washington St. 14. Technicals: Shulga 2.

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