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Logan • Stew Morrill might have saved his best for last.

Time will tell.

A polar bear-type figure who has been stalking the sideline at the Spectrum since 1998-99, Morrill announced in January that he would retire at the end of his 17th season at Utah State.

Many wondered how the lame-duck status and would impact Morrill's last team.

Not a problem.

Since the bittersweet news conference four weeks ago, Morrill seems a little more subdued during games — a little less likely to jump off the bench and challenge an official. Still, he has guided the Aggies to one of their most surprisingly successful seasons during his time as coach.

Picked 10th out of 11 in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll and with a roster lacking experience, size, depth and obvious scoring punch, Utah State is 13-10 overall and 6-5 in league play.

The Aggies come off a 63-60 win at New Mexico on Saturday — their first victory in Albuquerque since 1979 and one they might not have gotten without a virtuoso performance by their coach.

Consider Morrill's most critical move:

After freshman David Collette picked up two fouls in the opening 4 1/2 minutes, Morrill took his No. 2 scorer and rebounder out of the game. New Mexico followed with a 9-2 run that gave the Lobos a 17-8 lead.

Utah State was staggering.

Recognizing the situation, Morrill put Collette back in the game. The Aggies followed with a 9-2 run. With New Mexico's momentum stopped and his team's confidence restored, Morrill took Collette out again with over five minutes left in the half.

The rejuvenated Aggies followed by surging to a 33-30 halftime lead. They never trailed again, despite some anxious moments in the final minute. And Collette? He played 18 minutes in the the second half. He finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and only three fouls.

In the end, Morrill got his team to the finish line, a nose ahead of the opponent.

But what's new?

"The one thing I like about Stew is he sticks with what he likes and what he knows," said former Aggie coach and current radio analyst Rod Tueller. "They win with it or lose with it."

This season, the Aggies are winning more than many expected.

"This might be one of his best coaching jobs," Tueller said. "He has good kids who are giving all they've got. He has molded a team that's competing for the upper echelon of the conference. … But I don't think they are bubbling with talent."

The victory at New Mexico put the Aggies into a favorable position for the Mountain West's stretch run, starting Tuesday night against Nevada.

The play four of their final seven games at home. They play the four teams below them in the Mountain West standings. They do not play San Diego State or Boise State again. They play Colorado State at the Spectrum.

All the while, another milestone approaches for Morrill. His record at Utah State is 397-153. He needs three wins for 400.

"What a coach ultimately wants to receive is the respect of his fellow coaches — not only as a man but as a great coach," Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy said. "No one in the country is more respected in both areas than Stew." —

Nevada at USU

P Tuesday, 7 p.m.

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