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Weber State's Nigel Burris (5) shoots over the defense of Utah State's Zach Keller (32) on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Logan.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Weber State guard Tijan Saine Jr. runs the offense against Utah State on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Logan.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Weber State's Edwin Suarez Jr. rises for a shot against Utah State on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Logan.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Weber State center Malek Gomma, right, shoots against Utah State defense on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Logan.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Weber State forward Edwin Suarez Jr. (0) drives against a Utah State's Garry Clark on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Logan.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Coming off a disheartening overtime loss at Utah, Weber State men’s basketball came to play early in Wednesday night’s trip to Utah State, possibly starting to reveal an identity: a willingness to scrap, one through 12, and an ability to get on the boards.

But Utah State has an identity, too, returning several leaders from last year’s 26-8, NCAA Tournament team: long, athletic and an amoeba-like zone defense unlike much else in college basketball. By Ken Pomeroy rating (40, entering Wednesday), USU should be the most difficult opponent WSU plays in the regular season.

So the Aggies used their best traits to fight off a 41-41 halftime tie for a torrid run through the first eight minutes of the second half, and it was enough to put away the Wildcats in an 83-73 decision in front of 9,124 fans at the Smith Spectrum in Logan.

“To come in here — you know, we outrebounded this team by two — I thought our guys competed really hard,” WSU head coach Eric Duft said. “Credit to (USU), they’re just a very difficult team to play against.

“We were ready to play and … credit to our players to hang in there.”

Senior big man Nigel Burris recorded his third career double-double, netting 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds — including four on the offensive glass, where Weber State (1-2) outdid Utah State (3-0) by a 13-12 tally.

Burris, formerly a USU player, is noticeably more active and impactful early this season, especially now playing as a center. Duft said Burris has been “unbelievable” in his willingness to take on the new role.

“He was terrific tonight,” Duft said. “His work ethic — he’s gotten himself in such great condition. And he really enjoys playing with this team.”

Burris noted the effort but disliked the result.

“I’m upset that we lost, but I thought our team competed really well,” Burris said. “For me individually, it was a good game that I had, but I’ve got some more work to do. But I grew up a little bit; a bit more mature.”

Second-year Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun saw an identity, too.

“They’ve got a wonderful team. They’ve got pieces that really fit. I like watching them play,” Calhoun said about facing Weber State. “When they play basketball, they play the right way. They can shoot the ball, but the thing that’s really undervalued, that the other teams in their league are getting ready to find out, is that they impose their will like no other on the glass.”

Weber led 12-4 early and USU didn’t take a lead until 19-17 with 9:40 left in the first half, and the Wildcats pushed back on an Aggies run to scrap to the 41-41 halftime knot (while ultimately keeping Utah State to a 3-of-23 mark from the 3-point line). The game had a markedly different feel than last year’s 85-66 exhibition decision.

But, in a physical game that saw 43 fouls and 57 free-throw attempts, it was the Aggies’ defense that turned the game their way, a contest in which USU was favored by 22 points.

WSU’s Viljami Vartiainen hit a 3-pointer to give the visitors a 44-43 lead in the first minute out of halftime, but that was the last time the Wildcats had the advantage. Tucker Anderson got a fastbreak dunk off a wild WSU miss, a turnover led to MJ Collins knocking down the Aggies’ first 3 of the game, and Karson Templin’s motor in the paint (he led USU with 16 points) got a three-point play the old-fashioned way.

“We usually shoot the ball well; we’re a great shooting team. But as you know, teams have nights where the ball just isn’t going in the basket from 3,” USU guard Kolby King said. “So we had to switch it up a little bit and get inside the paint, feed our bigs, attack the paint and attack switches, and that was the outcome.”

When King — a senior in his fourth stop (St. John’s, Tulane, Butler) — converted a baseline drive to make it 55-48 with 15:40 left, it was the first time Utah State had led by more than two possessions. That kept growing, and King hit a 3-pointer to make it a 20-6 run over a 6-minute period, good for a 64-50 lead.

“You know it’s going to come in this building. That’s just a good basketball team,” Duft said about Utah State’s run. “You gotta withstand it, and we did that in the first half but we just had a couple offensive breakdowns. When you play these guys, you just can’t have those live-ball turnovers because they’re getting in transition and then you’re going back and playing against their zone.”

WSU’s Trevor Hennig, at one point, scored 11 straight for the Wildcats and, though USU was firmly in control from there, helped his team keep the contest from blowout territory. Twice, Burris free throws cut the deficit to single digits (with 6:05 left and with 25 seconds left).

Hennig led Weber State with 19 points, adding six rebounds; WSU outrebounded USU 40-38 despite the Aggies outshooting the Wildcats 45.3% to 38.6%.

“He’s competitive, you know and … he’s a guy that just rallies our players,” Duft said about Hennig.

Jace Whiting and David Hansen each pitched in 10 points.

Tijan Saine Jr. had five assists and one turnover in 33 minutes against USU’s difficult defense.

“He’s doing a great job of pitching the ball and getting them shots. He’s really playing like a point guard, and we need that out of him,” Duft said about Saine.

King scored 15 points for Utah State, with nine coming in the second half after helping fill in for starting point guard Drake Allen, who went down with a leg injury in the final seconds of the first half. King added eight rebounds. Big man Garry Clark scored 13 points before fouling out and usual star Mason Falslev scored a quiet 10 points.

Utah State now leads the all-time series 46-29, with a 27-10 advantage in Logan.

Weber State remains on the road with a trip to UC Irvine (2-1) on Saturday.