LOGAN, Utah - Nick Hammer scored 14 of his career-high 15 points in the first half and Jaycee Carroll scored 25 points to lead Utah State to a 74-56 win against Idaho in WAC basketball action here Monday night.
USU improved to 13-5 overall and 2-2 in the WAC with the victory, while Idaho fell to 2-14 and 0-4.
Hammer, a junior guard, hit all five of his first-half attempts, including four straight three-pointers to pace the Agggies in the first half. Hammer scored 12 points in a 16-5 run midway through the first half that put USU up 27-19 with eight minutes remaining in the period.
USU took a 42-34 advantage into the break behind Hammer's 14 points and Carroll's 13. That duo offset Idaho's Keoni Watson, who had 19 of his team's 34 points at intermission.
After Idaho cut the margin to 47-39 early in the second half, Utah State went on a 9-0 run to lead 56-39 and pushed the lead to as many as 21 the rest of the way.
Stephen DuCharme added 11 points for USU, while Idaho was led by a game-high 26 points by the 5-10 Watson. Watson made six of 11 three-pointers and was joined in double-figures by Trevor Morris, who chipped in 12 points.
The Aggies shot 54.9 percent from the field, its best mark in the last nine games, while holding Idaho to just 35.7 percent. The visiting Vandals were 10 of 33 from three-point range and were out-rebounded 33-28.
USU meanwhile hit eight of 15 three pointers as Hammer finished four of five and Carroll was three of five. Durrall Peterson, who had made a combined eight three-pointers in the previous two games, was one of four from behind the arc.
The Aggies committed just 11 turnovers, one shy of a season-low, including just four in the first half. USU shot 60.7 percent in the first period and cruised to the victory.