Tigers Can't Keep Pace at Utah State
LOGAN, Utah – Memphis’ trip into the mountains turned into a steep climb it couldn’t finish.
The Tigers battled early but couldn’t keep up with Utah State, falling 99-75 Saturday night inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah. Memphis slipped to 12-13 overall, while the Aggies improved to 22-3 with their seventh straight win.
Short-handed and on short rest, Memphis still traded punches for much of the first half. The Tigers matched Utah State possession for possession and a steal-and-score from Sincere Parker pushed Memphis in front 28-26 with just over four minutes left before the break.
That’s when the game flipped.
Utah State caught fire down the stretch, closing the half on a 22-6 run. The Aggies made eight of their final nine shots in the opening period and turned a tight contest into a 48-34 halftime cushion.
Memphis showed some fight coming out of the locker room. A quick 19-8 burst cut the deficit to single digits, but every time the Tigers threatened, Utah State had an answer. The Aggies responded with a decisive run of their own, stretching the margin back beyond 20 and taking control for good.
Utah State finished the night shooting 52.5 percent from the field with 22 assists on 31 made baskets. The Aggies also capitalized on Memphis mistakes, scoring 21 points off turnovers and going 27-of-36 at the free-throw line.
Three Utah State players scored at least 20 points, led by MJ Collins Jr.’s 24 on 10-of-14 shooting. Mason Falslev and Karson Templin added 20 apiece.
Parker paced Memphis with 21 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Curtis Givens III added 18 points on his birthday, while the Tigers shot 36.7 percent overall and just 22.2 percent from three-point range.
POSTGAME NOTES
Starting Five: Memphis opened with a starting lineup of Dug McDaniel, Curtis Givens III, Julius Thedford, Aaron Bradshaw and Thierno Sylla.
Tigers Can't Keep Pace at Utah State
LOGAN, Utah – Memphis’ trip into the mountains turned into a steep climb it couldn’t finish.
The Tigers battled early but couldn’t keep up with Utah State, falling 99-75 Saturday night inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah. Memphis slipped to 12-13 overall, while the Aggies improved to 22-3 with their seventh straight win.
Short-handed and on short rest, Memphis still traded punches for much of the first half. The Tigers matched Utah State possession for possession and a steal-and-score from Sincere Parker pushed Memphis in front 28-26 with just over four minutes left before the break.
That’s when the game flipped.
Utah State caught fire down the stretch, closing the half on a 22-6 run. The Aggies made eight of their final nine shots in the opening period and turned a tight contest into a 48-34 halftime cushion.
Memphis showed some fight coming out of the locker room. A quick 19-8 burst cut the deficit to single digits, but every time the Tigers threatened, Utah State had an answer. The Aggies responded with a decisive run of their own, stretching the margin back beyond 20 and taking control for good.
Utah State finished the night shooting 52.5 percent from the field with 22 assists on 31 made baskets. The Aggies also capitalized on Memphis mistakes, scoring 21 points off turnovers and going 27-of-36 at the free-throw line.
Three Utah State players scored at least 20 points, led by MJ Collins Jr.’s 24 on 10-of-14 shooting. Mason Falslev and Karson Templin added 20 apiece.
Parker paced Memphis with 21 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Curtis Givens III added 18 points on his birthday, while the Tigers shot 36.7 percent overall and just 22.2 percent from three-point range.
POSTGAME NOTES
Starting Five: Memphis opened with a starting lineup of Dug McDaniel, Curtis Givens III, Julius Thedford, Aaron Bradshaw and Thierno Sylla.
It’s the third-straight game the Tigers have used this starting five.
Shooting: Memphis shot 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor and went 4-of-18 from beyond the three-point line (22.2%).
Both sides got to the free throw line in bunches with the Tigers converting 27-of-34 (79.4%) and Utah State making 27-of-36 (75.0%).
Over the last two games, Memphis’ opponents have been awarded 77 free throw attempts.
Turnovers: Memphis committed 12 turnovers, which Utah State turned into 21 points.
It’s the eighth time this season opponents have recorded 20-plus points off turnovers, including in three of the last four games.
Defense: The Tigers allowed the Aggies to shoot 52.5 percent overall (31-of-59), including 10-of-28 from long distance (35.7%).
The Tigers swiped six steals and blocked one shot.
Bench Production: Memphis got 31 points from its bench, the 15th time the Tigers have eclipsed 30-plus point from the reserves.
Rebounding: Memphis outrebounded Utah State, 39-35, including an 18-12 mark on the offensive glass.
The Tigers outscored the Aggies 21-14 in second-chance points.
Ball Movement: Memphis dished out only seven assists, a season low.
Sincere Parker finished with the first double-double of his career with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.
He shot 10-of-10 at the free throw line to extend his consecutive makes streak to 35.
The 10 rebounds were a career high for Parker.
He has scored double figures in eight of his last nine full games played and now has 20+ points in five of the last eight outings.
Curtis Givens III recorded 18 points and four rebounds in 32 minutes.
He led the team with three triples and went 5-of-5 at the stripe.
It’s his ninth game of the season in double figures and fourth with at least 18 points.
Dug McDaniel finished with 10 points, three assists and a team-high four steals in 33 minutes.
It’s his sixth game of the year with four or more steals.
Aaron Bradshaw recorded seven points and five rebounds, while Julius Thedford also added seven points.
UP NEXT
Memphis gets back into American Conference action next week with a split slate. The Tigers will make the trip to Tampa to face league leader South Florida on Thursday at 6 p.m., before returning home to host UAB at 11 a.m. Sunday for a stripe out game.
It’s the third-straight game the Tigers have used this starting five.
Shooting: Memphis shot 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor and went 4-of-18 from beyond the three-point line (22.2%).
Both sides got to the free throw line in bunches with the Tigers converting 27-of-34 (79.4%) and Utah State making 27-of-36 (75.0%).
Over the last two games, Memphis’ opponents have been awarded 77 free throw attempts.
Turnovers: Memphis committed 12 turnovers, which Utah State turned into 21 points.
It’s the eighth time this season opponents have recorded 20-plus points off turnovers, including in three of the last four games.
Defense: The Tigers allowed the Aggies to shoot 52.5 percent overall (31-of-59), including 10-of-28 from long distance (35.7%).
The Tigers swiped six steals and blocked one shot.
Bench Production: Memphis got 31 points from its bench, the 15th time the Tigers have eclipsed 30-plus point from the reserves.
Rebounding: Memphis outrebounded Utah State, 39-35, including an 18-12 mark on the offensive glass.
The Tigers outscored the Aggies 21-14 in second-chance points.
Ball Movement: Memphis dished out only seven assists, a season low.
Sincere Parker finished with the first double-double of his career with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.
He shot 10-of-10 at the free throw line to extend his consecutive makes streak to 35.
The 10 rebounds were a career high for Parker.
He has scored double figures in eight of his last nine full games played and now has 20+ points in five of the last eight outings.
Curtis Givens III recorded 18 points and four rebounds in 32 minutes.
He led the team with three triples and went 5-of-5 at the stripe.
It’s his ninth game of the season in double figures and fourth with at least 18 points.
Dug McDaniel finished with 10 points, three assists and a team-high four steals in 33 minutes.
It’s his sixth game of the year with four or more steals.
Aaron Bradshaw recorded seven points and five rebounds, while Julius Thedford also added seven points.
UP NEXT
Memphis gets back into American Conference action next week with a split slate. The Tigers will make the trip to Tampa to face league leader South Florida on Thursday at 6 p.m., before returning home to host UAB at 11 a.m. Sunday for a stripe out game.
