Utah State takes on UCLA in opening round of the NCAA Tournament

LOGAN (KSL.com) — The nerves started to get to Ian Martinez as he and his Utah State teammates sat in front of a big-screen TV Sunday afternoon and waited to hear their names called on Selection Sunday.

“They were taking a little bit too long,” Martinez said.

But then it happened, and the Aggies learned they were going dancing.

The Aggies, who earned a No. 10 seed, will face No. 7 UCLA on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, which is in the Midwest region of the bracket.

“We certainly earned our way through the course of this season,” Aggies coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “Very pleased with the seed.”

The Bruins (22-10, 13-7 Big Ten) lost in the first round of its conference tournament to Wisconsin and is led by Tyler Bilodeau, who averages 13.6 points per game. Eric Dailey Jr., averages 11.6 points and Sebastian Mack 10 points per game.

One of UCLA’s biggest strengths this season has been its defense, allowing just 65.7 points per game during the season. The Aggies, meanwhile, score 80.9 points per game.

“They turn you over,” Calhoun said of UCLA. “The tenacity they play on both sides of the ball is very real, so ball security will be critical. We’re going to need to try to speed them up, as well, and force tempo.”

Utah State has now made the tournament in six of the previous seven years. Last year, under a different coach, the Aggies made it to the second round before falling to Purdue.

“I’ve been to the tournament before, but some of these guys haven’t,” Martinez said. “I feel like you should always be confident. We just have to go out there, have fun. … We just have to go out there and be us.”

The Aggies lost to Colorado State in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament. They were one of four MW teams to get into the tournament.

Mason Falslev, a sophomore, will be in the tournament for the third time; although, he didn’t play in this first time as a redshirt. Falslev said he is looking forward to the moment to compete this year.

“I think with every experience like this, you get a little more comfortable,” Falslev said.

The Aggies have lost three of their last five games; but now with a clean slate against UCLA, all eyes are on survive and advance.

“This is the time that we play for,” Martinez said.

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