Jan. 11, 2005

LOGAN, Utah - For the second straight week, Utah State's men's basketball team is leading the nation in field goal percentage according to the latest NCAA statistics released on Tuesday. USU is shooting 53.8 percent from the field this year, while North Carolina is second in the nation at 52.9 percent. During the 2003-04 season, Utah State finished third in the country in field goal percentage at 50.9 percent.

Utah State also ranks 12th in the country in fewest fouls committed per game (14.6), 15th in scoring defense (58.4), 18th in fewest turnovers committed per game (12.6), 28th in three-point field goal percentage (40.4), and 29th in scoring margin (+13.9).

Individually, junior forward Nate Harris (Smithfield, Utah) ranks second in the country in field goal percentage at 68.4 percent, while freshman guard Jaycee Carroll (Evanston, Wyo.) ranks eighth in the country in three-point field goal percentage at 51.4 percent, and senior forward Spencer Nelson (Pocatello, Idaho) ranks 50th in the country in rebounding with an average of 8.6 boards per game.

Utah State, who is currently 11-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Big West Conference, travels to Pacific (10-2, 5-0) on Thur., Jan. 13 and Cal State Northridge (6-7, 4-1) on Sat., Jan. 15. The game against the Tigers will begin at 8:05 p.m. (MST), will USU's match-up with the Matadors will begin at 3:05 p.m. (MST) and will be televised live by Fox Sports Net West 2 and by Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.