COL BKB: Utah St. 69, Cal.-Northridge 47

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Mark Brown sparked a huge first-half run and finished with 25 points Thursday night as No. 23 Utah State cruised past Cal. St.-Northridge, 69-47.

It was the Aggies' 17th straight victory.

Nate Harris scored 14 points and Cardell Butler added 12 for Utah State (20-1, 12-0 Big West), which is off to the best start in school history.

The game was tied at 6-6 before Brown made a three-pointer 3 1/2 minutes into the contest that triggered a 26-5 run.

Harris had 11 points, Butler 10 and Brown nine by halftime as the Aggies built a 35-18 advantage. The Matadors climbed within 51-40 before Utah State embarked on an 18-2 run down the stretch to put the game away.