MJ Collins Leads Utah State to 65-61 Victory Over Colorado State

In a thrilling matchup on January 20, 2024, Utah State secured a narrow victory over Colorado State, winning 65-61. MJ Collins Jr. was the standout player, scoring a total of 20 points and helping to rally his team in the second half.

The game took place at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado. Utah State entered the contest with a record of 16-3 and a 7-2 standing in the Mountain West Conference. Colorado State, meanwhile, had a record of 12-8 and was 3-6 in conference play.

Utah State struggled initially, trailing 35-25 at halftime. Adlan Elamin contributed to the scoring with seven points in the first half, but the team faced challenges against a determined Colorado State defense.

The second half saw a significant turnaround, primarily driven by Collins, who scored 17 of his 20 points after the break. He shot 7 for 15 from the field, including 2 for 6 from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. His performance was instrumental in shifting the momentum of the game.

Alongside Collins, Garry Clark and Karson Templin added valuable contributions with ten points each. Clark showcased efficiency, hitting 5 of 6 shots from the field, while Templin also performed well with a 5 for 7 shooting record.

On the opposing side, Kyle Jorgensen led Colorado State with an impressive 24 points and three steals. Josh Pascarelli supported him with 13 points, while Rashaan Mbemba finished with 10 points and four assists.

The victory marks a crucial win for Utah State as they aim to strengthen their position in the Mountain West Conference standings. The Aggies will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games, while Colorado State will seek to regroup and improve their performance in the next fixtures.

The Associated Press contributed to this report using data from Sportradar.