SALT LAKE CITY — Something about playing in neutral-site, standalone games venues has given Utah State the tendancy to build up double-digit leads and then come uncomfortably close to giving them away late in the game.

Five weeks ago in Frisco, Texas, the Aggies led VCU by 17 points before being forced to grind out a three-point win. Similarly, the Aggies led Illinois State by as many as 15 in the second half on Saturday. But in the final few minutes, USU had to fight and claw for key buckets and then make free throws down the stretch to come away with another close win, 83-78.

Illinois State took a very brief 2-0 lead one minute in, only for the Aggies to power ahead on a 7-0 run led by some unlikely scorers. Adlan Elamin, the freshman getting just his second start, had a fastbreak dunk

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