Utah State senior guard Mason Falslev was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, according to a report from Mid-Utah Radio. Falslev, a native of Benson, Utah, recorded six steals during recent victories over Idaho State and Omaha.
The Aggies are scheduled to host Utah Tech at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday night, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Utah State currently holds a 2-0 record, while Utah Tech is 1-1. First-year head coach Ben Jacobson noted that defensive rebounding remains a challenge for the team. The Aggies are playing without injured players Connor Turnbull and Collin Mulholland.
Utah Tech features fifth-year forward Ethan Potter, who averaged 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season. During that first-team All-WAC season, Potter shot 59.8% from the field. Jacobson noted the challenges involved when playing against a highly skilled center or a highly skilled five-man unit.
Falslev is currently averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game. The Aggies' defensive identity under Jacobson has focused on ball pressure, consistent communication, and forcing difficult shots for opponents.
The game between Utah State and Utah Tech can be watched on the Pac-12 YouTube channel or listened to on 99.5 The Fan.
