Tuesday, December 2nd, 9:05 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: D.G. Smith Spectrum (10,270) -- Logan, Utah. Television: None. Home Record: UCI 0-2, USU 3-0. Away Record: UCI 0-3, USU 1-0. Neutral Record: UCI 0-0, USU 0-0. Conference Record: UCI 0-0, USU 0-0. Series Record: Utah State leads, 30-27.

GAME NOTES: Off to a perfect 4-0 start, the Utah State Aggies try to keep the good times rolling tonight as they host the UC Irvine Anteaters in non- conference play at the D.G. Smith Spectrum in Logan. Except for a close call against UC Santa Barbara in the second game of the season, a 61-59 decision, the Aggies have blown away the competition thus far. On Saturday night, the team treated the Cal Poly Mustangs to a 97-57 setback at home for their fourth win in as many tries in 2008-09. As for the Anteaters, they are at the other end of the success spectrum these days, losing all four of their decisions thus far. After playing close games against both Eastern Washington and Oregon, the squad took an ugly turn with a miserable 101-47 loss to Idaho on the road, a finish that represents the largest margin of victory for a Vandals program against any Division I opponent. Then on Sunday the Anteaters played EWU for the second time this season and again lost, this time by a score of 78-64. With respect to the all-time series between these two teams, Utah State leads by a count of 30-27, but UC Irvine dominated the meeting last season at home with a 70-51 triumph.

UC Irvine was within a point at the break versus Eastern Washington on Sunday, but then the visitors shot a mere 32.3 percent from the field, including 3- of-12 behind the three-point line, as the Anteaters bowed in a 14-point road decision. Except for Chad DeCasas who tallied just five points, every starter for UCI ended up in double figures, beginning with Brett Lauer who dropped in 16 points. Michael Hunter, Eric Wise and Kevin Bland all tallied 13 points, the latter grabbing 11 rebounds as well. After five games the top scorer for the Anteaters is Bland with his 11.6 ppg, not to mention being one of the top man on the glass with almost four and a half boards per game as well. Wise and Lauer check in with 11.0 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Much further down on the scoring chart is Zach Atkinson with his 3.6 ppg, but he makes up for that lackluster effort with his team-best five rebounds per outing.

The Aggies went from shooting a strong 61.5 percent from the field in the first half to a sizzling 67.7 percent after the break as they completely crushed Cal Poly over the weekend. Gary Wilkinson accounted for 21 points, Stavon Williams added 15 points off the bench and Tai Wesley pitched in with 14 points and five assists in the triumph. In the case of Williams, he feasted behind the three-point line, hitting 5-of-6 chances as the team was 9-of-14 out on the perimeter overall in the onslaught. Wilkinson, who has led the team in scoring in three of the first four games of the campaign, is pacing the group overall at the moment with his 18.5 ppg as he is shooting an incredible 76.5 percent from the floor and has knocked down 22-of-27 at the free-throw line as well. Wilkinson knows full well that he belongs in the paint where he is first in rebounding with nearly nine boards per game for a team that is shooting not only 55.2 percent from the floor (tops in the nation this week) but also 46.8 percent behind the three-point line.

Playing on the road has not been easy for UCI so far this season, then again, the team hasn't looked that great at home either, which is why USU should be in line for the victory in Logan.

Predicted Outcome

Utah State 78, UC Irvine 62