NCAA Bid Is Worth the Wait for Utah State

Utah State’s decade-long wait for a return trip to the NCAA tournament is over.

Marcus Saxon scored 23 points, and Utah State held off a late rally to beat Pacific, 78-63, Sunday, claiming the Big West tournament championship and an automatic NCAA berth.

Justin Jones added 17 points, Kevin Rice had 14 and Pharoah Davis had 11 for Utah State, making its 12th trip to the NCAA tournament but the first since 1988, when the Aggies lost to Nebraska in the first round.

“We’ve set a school record for wins and we’re going to the NCAAs,” Utah State Coach Larry Eustachy said. “We’re happy but not satisfied. We think we can go beat somebody.”

The Aggies (25-7), who earned their second Big West championship and surpassed the school’s season record for wins, beat Pacific, the defending tournament champion, for the first time in four tournament meetings. Utah State fans stormed the court and players and coaches hugged one another and danced at Lawlor Events Center.

“It’s a lot harder watching the other team celebrate especially after celebrating here ourselves last year but Utah State played better than us,” Pacific’s Adam Jacobsen said.

Utah State drew a No. 13 seed in the West region and will play No. 4 seed Maryland in the first round Thursday at Sacramento.

“They’re an exceptional team and they play in the best conference [ACC] in the country,” Eustachy said. “We have our hands full. I’m sure they’re big and strong but we’ll analyze them this week and go there and have a game plan and try to beat them.”

Michael Olowokandi’s 32 points led Pacific (24-9), which defeated Utah State in the semifinals last year en route to the conference title. Pacific also had its 16-game winning streak snapped.

Pacific, meanwhile, received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.

“Getting to the NCAAs was our goal, so yes, we’re disappointed,” Pacific Coach Bob Thomason said. “But UOP has never been in the NIT.”