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Boise, Idaho • In college basketball, a coach never knows when or where he's going to find a productive player.

Take Stew Morrill.

During the second half of Wednesday night's 61-33 blowout win over short-handed San Jose State, the Aggie coach put seldom-used Trace Cureton into the game.

A junior transfer from Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, Cureton had played only 26 minutes all season, including nine since Nov. 22. He had scored one point and missed both his field-goal attempts.

Against San Jose, however, Cureton played smoothly and confidently. He finished with five points, two steals and a rebound in 13 minutes.

More significantly, he caught Morrill's eye and, apparently, has given his coach another option off the bench.

"Trace Cureton … he did some good things," Morrill said. "That was certainly a positive. As a player, sometimes you think, 'Oh, I'm just getting a chance to play in mop-up time.' But they don't realize, as a coach, you're watching like a hawk to see if somebody you haven't been playing can go out there and help you a little bit. And I won't hesitate to throw Trace out there after tonight. He showed he can help us."

Cureton's next chance to reinforce Morrill's confidence comes Saturday, when Utah State visits Boise State.

Tipoff is noon.

The Broncos are 10-4 but lost their Mountain West Conference opener at Colorado State. They owned a 10-point lead with 17 minutes remaining before the unbeaten and 24th-ranked Rams rallied.

"We knew they were going to bring it," senior guard Rob Heyer told the Idaho Statesman. "We felt like we brought it — for the most part — but made mistakes you can't make in a game like this."

Said coach Leon Rice: "We were where we wanted to be. … Just gotta find a way to get it done."

Boise State will be without star Anthony Drmic, who averaged 15 points in the first seven games but is now sidelined for the season because of an ankle injury.

Drmic, who ranks sixth on Boise's all-time scoring list, could return next season if the NCAA grants him a medical hardship.

Meanwhile, Utah State tries to build off its win over San Jose State, which — because of suspensions — dressed only seven players against the Aggies.

USU limited the Spartans to 20-percent shooting — the 10th opponent it held under 40 this season. San Jose's 33 points were the fewest allowed by the Aggies since a 72-30 win at Louisiana Tech in the 2010-11 season.

"We're always a defensive-minded team first," said freshman guard Julion Pearre. "We play hard."

Offensively, the Aggies went 11 for 22 from the 3-point line against San Jose State. In all, they handed out 17 assists on 21 field goals.

"We shot the ball with confidence," Pearre said. "We were moving the ball well, and getting open looks always helps."

One problem?

Utah State's No. 2 scorer, redshirt freshman David Collette, scored only one point in the victory. But he was ill.

"He didn't feel well," Morrill said. "We have to get him on [vitamins] or something. We've got to get him feeling better."

Twitter: @sluhm —

Utah State at Boise State

P At Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho

Tipoff • Noon

TV • ROOT Sports

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 8-5, 1-0; Boise State 10-4, 0-1

Series history • Utah State leads 29-9

Last meeting • Utah State, 76-70 (Feb. 8, 2014)

About the Aggies • They have won five of their past six. … They are 6-0 when opponents score less than 60 points. … They were 2-7 in Mountain West road games last year, including a 78-74 loss at Boise. … Their top scorers are sophomore F Jalen Moore (15.5), freshman C/F David Collette (13.5) and junior wing Chis Smith (11.3).

About the Broncos • They were picked second behind San Diego State in the Mountain West preseason poll. … They have lost two straight, to No. 24 Colorado State (71-65) and Loyola of Chicago (48-45). … Their top scorer is senior G Derrick Marks. He averages 16 points and shoots 54 percent on 3-pointers.