Utah State Hosts Oakland University in CollegeInsider.com Semifinals

Utah State [University] men's basketball continues its postseason run by hosting Oakland University Sunday, March 25, at 4 p.m., in the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) it was announced Wednesday [March 21] evening.

The other semifinal game has Fairfield hosting Mercer Saturday, March 24.

Ticket prices are $17 for adults, while USU students will receive free admission with a valid ID. Junior Aggie members will also receive free admission if accompanied by a paying adult. Fans can purchase tickets in person inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum at the USU Ticket Office, or over the phone by call 1-888-USTATE-1. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at UtahStateAggies.com.

Utah State is 20-15 on the season after posting home wins against CSU Bakersfield (75-69), Idaho (76-56) and Loyola Marymount (77-69) in the first three rounds of the CIT. Overall, USU has won six of its last seven games and is 16-4 at home this year.

With its win against Loyola Marymount in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, Utah State has now won 20-plus games in each of the past 13 seasons and is one of just seven teams in the country to accomplish that feat along with Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Syracuse and Texas. Furthermore, it is the 27th time in school history that USU has won 20 games.

Oakland University is 20-15 overall after defeating Bowling Green (86-69), Buffalo (84-76) and Rice (77-70) at home in the first three rounds of the CIT. The Grizzlies, who have won eight of their last 10 games, are 8-8 on the road and 8-9 away from home this year. OU finished in third-place in The Summit League this year with an 11-7 record.

The meeting between Utah State and Oakland is the first-ever in series history. All-time, USU is 17-2 (.895) against current members of The Summit League as it is 6-0 against Southern Utah, including a 65-62 home win this year, 6-1 against Oral Roberts, 4-0 versus South Dakota State and 1-1 against IPFW.

Utah State is led by sophomore guard Preston Medlin who is averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists, while shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from three-point range and 80.1 percent at the free throw line. Utah State has two other players scoring in double-figures as senior guard Brockeith Pane is averaging 12.4 points and 4.1 assists, while junior forward Kyisean Reed is averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Senior forward Morgan Grim is averaging 8.9 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds on the season. As a team, Utah State is averaging 68.0 points and shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range and 71.8 percent at the free throw line. Defensively, USU is allowing 64.3 points and its opponents are shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from three-point range and 66.1 percent at the free throw line.

Oakland University is led by senior guard Reggie Hamilton who leads the nation in scoring at 26.3 points per game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three-point range and 88.5 percent at the free throw line. Sophomore guard Travis Bader is averaging 15.7 points and junior forward Drew Valentine is averaging 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. As a team, Oakland is averaging 79.8 points and shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three-point range and 73.7 percent at the free throw line. Defensively, OU is allowing 77.9 points and its opponents are shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from three-point range and 73.0 percent at the free throw line.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.