Utah State takes BP Top of the World Classic title in all-Utah final

Submitted by Barry Piser
Phone: (907) 474-6805
11/20/06

Utah State took control against Weber State in the opening minutes of the 2006 BP Top of the World championship game and never looked back in a 68-55 win at the Carlson Center Sunday night. Trailing 2-0 in the all-Utah finale, tournament MVP Jaycee Carroll hit a three-pointer at the18:16 mark to put Utah State up and the Aggies never trailed again.

Carroll, an all-tournament team member at the 2004 Top of the World, had 21 points in the win to pace Utah State. Forward Stephen DuCharme, who also made the all-tourney squad, hit all seven of his shots to score 16 points for the Aggies.

Utah State hit 50 percent for the game and only turned the ball over 11 times in an efficient effort. Weber State came alive in the second half and outscored Utah State on a 13-of-22 mark from the field but it wasn’t enough as Carroll notched 11 of his points to keep the Aggies in front.

Forward Arturas Valeika, another all-tournament pick, led Weber with 18 points. Center David Patten also made the all-tournament list but was limited to just eight points in the title tilt.

Carroll led all scorers in the tournament with 24 points a game to earn the George Roderick MVP Award. It is the first time the award has been named in honor of former Nanook head coach Roderick, who was instrumental in getting the Top of the World off the ground in 1996.

For more information visit www.AlaskaNanooks.com .