This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Colorado Springs • Utah State continues to gather some late-season momentum.

Chris Smith and Jalen Moore scored 23 points and the Aggies won for the fourth time in six games Tuesday night at Clune Arena with a 78-65 victory over Air Force.

Utah State bumped its record to 15-13 overall and 7-10 in the Mountain West Conference. Air Force, which had won four straight at home, slipped to 14-16 and 5-12.

"I thought we had a good approach," Aggie coach Tim Duryea said. "Offensively against them, it's a real crap shoot. You're going to have to make some shots over the top — that's the way the play defense — and we did enough of that."

The game turned during a 3 1/2-minute stretch of the second half, when Utah State needed just six possessions to score 17 points.

Utah State owned a 41-38 lead when Darius Perkins buried a three-pointer. The Aggies also got three-pointers from Julion Pearre, Smith and Moore while opening a 58-42 lead with 12:20 remaining.

After struggling from the three-point line and committing six early turnovers, Utah State trailed with 5:30 left in the first half, 26-22.

Center Quinn Taylor rallied the Aggies with back-to-back baskets and Moore finished the half with the first of back-to-back corner threes to make it a five-point game at 1:27. He made two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Utah State a 40-33 lead.

In the second half, the Aggies managed only one free throw from their first eight possessions and Air Force made it 41-38 on Zach Kocur's three-pointer with 16:44 left.

Utah State followed with its run, however, to snap a five-game road losing streak and beat the Falcons for the 12th time in 13 games in the series.

Said Duryea: "I really thought our guys did a good job defensively and on the boards. A great all-around effort." _

Storylines

R Chris Smith and Jalen Moore score 23 points to lead Utah State to a 78-65 win at Air Force.

• The Aggies win their fourth in six games. They are 15-13 overall and 7-10 in the Mountain West.

• Utah State breaks open a close game with a 17-4 run in the second half.