Utah State University is headed east for its annual multi-team event (MTE), set to take place at the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. The Aggies will kick off their participation with a game against Tulane on Friday, November 23, followed by a potential match against either Boston College or Davidson on Sunday, November 25.
The Aggies have a commendable record in MTEs, having secured titles in three of the past four years. Since the 2021-22 season, Utah State boasts an impressive 10-1 record in MTE contests. Last year, the team clinched the ESPN NIT Season Tip-Off and further solidified their strong performance by winning the Cayman Islands Classic for the 2023-24 season, alongside the Myrtle Beach Invitational in 2021-22.
Senior forward Garry Clark has been a standout player for the Aggies, recently being named the Mountain West Player of the Week. Clark has been instrumental, averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game off the bench during the previous week’s contests. His consistent performance has seen him achieve double-doubles in three of the four games this season, with overall averages of 14.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Another key contributor is senior guard MJ Collins Jr., who transferred from Vanderbilt and leads the team with an average of 16.3 points per game. He has already surpassed the 20-point mark in two games, highlighted by a career-high 23 points against Westminster.
Utah State has kicked off the season with a perfect 4-0 record, marking the fifth time in eight years they have achieved this start. Last season, they managed an impressive 10-0 run, establishing the best beginning to a season in program history.
The Aggies have integrated a significant number of newcomers this year, welcoming ten new players, including five transfers and five true freshmen. The transfer group includes Garry Clark from Texas A&M-CC, senior guards MJ Collins Jr. and Kolby King (from Vanderbilt and Butler, respectively), senior forward Zach Keller (from Utah), and junior forward Luke Kearney (from Air Force). Among the freshmen are guards Elijah Perryman and Brayden Boe, wings Kingston Tosi and Adlan Elamin, and forward David Iweze.
With a strong roster and a promising start to the season, Utah State looks to continue its winning momentum in Charleston, bringing veteran experience and fresh talent to the court.