Logan, UT – Justin Bean is a feature player in the Mountain West Conference, and he proved that for Utah State in Tuesday night scoring 29 points with 12 rebounds in the Aggies' 81-62 win over Portland State.
 
The Vikings started well, and were leading midway through the first half before the Aggies got hot and took charge at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Bean, a senior forward, was the igniter, hitting 11-15 shots overall, including all five three-point attempts and 2-3 at the line. He entered the game averaging 19.2 points and 10.3 rebounds.
 
Portland State had four players in double figures. James Jean-Marie and Khalid Thomas shared scoring honors with 13 points each. Jean-Marie had a team-high five rebounds, while Thomas grabbed four. Paris Dawson had 11 points and four rebounds.
 
This was another big challenge for PSU, whose non-conference schedule hs been filled with challenges from the Pac-12, Big 10 and Mountain West. With a 3-7 overall record, the Vikings now look ahead to Big Sky Conference competition for the remainder of the season. PSU started 1-1 in early Big Sky play three weeks ago.
 
A team that has struggled with slow starts this season, Portland State had perhaps its best start in 10 games, hitting four of its first six three-point attempts. The Vikings jumped to an 8-0 lead in the opening moments behind a pair of three-pointers from Thomas.
 
Utah State came back to score nine straight over the next three minutes before Marlon Ruffin hit back-to-back three-pointers. The Vikings led 14-12 at that point.
 
A Jacob Eyman free throw had the Vikings ahead 20-17 with 9:54 to go in the first half. Utah State then dialed up its offense and went on a 15-2 run. Sean Bairstow scored seven in the rally and soon the Aggies were ahead 32-22. They went to halftime leading 42-29.
 
Bean had 15 points and five rebounds at the break to lead the Aggies. Four Vikings were tied with six points apiece.
 
The Aggies scored 10 straight early in the second half to lead 52-31. PSU would never got closer than 18 points.
 
The Aggies missed only seven shot attempts in the second half, preventing any significant rally by the Vikings. They finished at 31-53 from the field (.585), making 12-21 three-pointers (.571). PSU couldn't match those numbers, making only 20-59 overall (.339) and 8-27 from distance (.296).
 
Utah State out-rebounded the Vikings 39-28. And with nine offensive rebounds, well below the season average, PSU had only four second-chance points.
 
Max Shulga added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Aggies, who complete their non-conference schedule at 9-4.
 

GAME NOTES

• PSU forced 17 Utah State turnovers, making eight steals. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in both categories.
• Paris Dawson was 5-5 at the free throw line. He is 28-31 on the season for a .903 percentage.
• Michael Carter III had four assists for the Vikings. Jacob Eyman had five rebounds and two blocked shots in 14 minutes.
• Portland State is 1-5 in road games this season.
• The Vikings and Aggies were meeting for the first time in four seasons. It was the first time they have played in Logan, UT in 43 years (Dec. 18, 1978).
• Portland State is now off until later next week when it resumes Big Sky Conference play. The Vikings host Eastern Washington on Dec. 30 and Idaho on Jan. 1 at Viking Pavilion. Both games start at 7 p.m.