Utah State men's basketball unofficially opened its 2026-27 campaign with an exhibition victory Saturday afternoon at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, according to a Utah State University report published October 10. The Aggies defeated Denver 86-76 in their first tune-up of the year.
Senior guard Mason Falslev led Utah State with 18 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. During his 25 minutes of action, Falslev also recorded four rebounds, five assists, and two steals. The Aggie bench contributed 34 points toward the total, with 12 different players scoring and 10 players playing 10 minutes or more.
Utah State maintained control for much of the contest, holding a 48-34 halftime lead. The Aggies opened the second half with a 12-5 run to establish a 21-point advantage at 60-39. The team finished the game shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line. Junior forward Will Hornseth recorded 13 points and nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, while reserve forward Karson Templin contributed eight points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 13 minutes.
The exhibition win was the first of three preseason games for the Aggies. Denver finished the game with 76 points, shooting 42.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. Utah State will play its second preseason exhibition on Saturday, Oct. 17, when they travel to Moraga, California, to face Saint Mary's at 8 p.m. (MT). The Aggies' official season opener is scheduled for Nov. 2 versus Idaho State.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Utah State men's basketball season are sold out. Fans can purchase single-game tickets or a nonconference pass that includes all home nonconference games.
