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SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Utah State Aggies met an all too familiar end to their season Friday afternoon, losing for the second consecutive year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Freshman Khris Middleton scored 19 points to lead the Texas A&M Aggies over Utah State, 69-53 in Spokane, Wash.
Texas A&M proved to be too tough for Utah State to handle on the offensive and defensive end, limiting Utah State to 38.7 percent from the floor and a dismal 25 percent from long range.
"That's as a good defensive team as we've seen in three or four years. They did a great job defensively inside," said Aggie Assistant Coach Tim Duryea.
Senior guard Jared Quayle hit a 3-pointer with 15:49 left in the first half to give Utah State an early 5-4 lead, and it was the last lead Utah State would enjoy.
"We came out confident. We thought we were going to play good enough to give us a chance to win. They got on a little run early and we had a hard time to respond," Junior forward Pooh Williams said.
Utah State cut the lead to single digits and got as close as three points, but the physical play of Texas A&M shut down Utah State at every facet. Some questioned after the game whether or not Utah State gave up, and Aggie Head Coach Stew Morrill defended his players most adamantly.
"I think we kept battling. I don't think our guys gave in and quit playing. I think Texas A&M just physically dominated us. They are strong, big and very well coached," Morrill said.
Texas A&M finished the night shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point land. Sophomore forward David Loubeau finished with 14 points on the night and junior guard B.J. Holmes chipped in 11 points. Utah State did limit Texas A&M leading scorer senior guard Donald Sloan to 10 points.
"We did a great job on Sloan," Duryea said.
Coach Morrill said in the end that Texas A&M outplayed Utah State. No intricate post-game analysis needed.
"I think we're searching for this and that and we're not giving Texas A&M the credit they deserve. Texas A&M dominated the basketball game. They're bigger, they're stronger. They are high character just like us," Morrill said. "If you watched the game you could see the domination by their athletes and their length. We would have had to have had a real excellent shooting night. They are good."
Quayle said the physicality wasn't a good excuse however, "They were very physical with us, but that is no excuse, we have to fight through."
Utah State will be without senior guard Jared Quayle next season, but they will have seven seniors next year, including four out of the starting five players. One of those players, junior forward Tai Wesley, finished the night with 14 points and said the loss to Texas A&M is bittersweet.
"I am saddened about the season being over, but I am excited for next year," Wesley said.
