A Huber three and two Harris free throws were the only points the Aggies scored during the first five minutes. Harris said it took the Aggies "about 10 minutes to figure out we were playing a basketball game."

Indeed, the best player in the Aggie Blue and Fighting White the first half was reserve Chaz Spicer, who finished with 14 points in limited minutes and was able to create his own shot when nothing else was working. Both Harris and Morrill used the words "thank goodness" in describing Spicer's performance.

The Spartans led for the majority of the first half before letting USU come alive and get up by seven going into the locker rooms. At the 13:10 mark in the second, San Jose's Spencer Carlton hit the first of three threes, which tied the score. The run was capped by another Spartan three, this one by Alex Elam, and the Spartans were ahead again. They would hold the lead until 1:17 was left, when Matheus hit the first of four straight free throws.

"Those were huge free throws by Cass," Morrill said. "We were in deep trouble, but it's a win."

Even then it wasn't over. San Jose got three offensive rebounds on its final possession, when a three would have tied it. None of the attempts would go in though, and USU's senior night festivities continued unmarred.

Up next for the Aggies is the same team Thursday in Reno at the WAC tournament in what Morrill called a quick-turnaround game.

"I think we just have to go to the tournament and throw caution to the wind and just go play and see if we can win that sucker," Harris said.