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AP: Texas A&M knocks out Utah State
Published 3/20/2010 in Sports
By The Associated Press
When Texas A&M guard Derrick Roland broke his leg in December it forced some drastic lineup changes for the Aggies, including freshman Khris Middleton being moved into the starting lineup.
He played OK, then averaged a solid 15 points in three Big 12 tournament games.
But Middleton erupted for a career-high 19 points as fifth-seeded Texas A&M crushed 12th seed Utah State 69-53 on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament's South Regional at Spokane, Wash.
"Going into the game, I was a little nervous," the 6-foot-7 Middleton said. "But as we started, I was less nervous and just played."
Making your first four 3-pointers will do that. Middleton made 7 of 10 shots, including 5 of 6 3-point attempts, in 25 minutes. He came in averaging 7.0 points per game and shooting 29 percent from 3-point range.
Texas A&M (24-9) advanced to the second round for the fifth consecutive year and will face No. 4 seed Purdue on Sunday.
Middleton scored 14 points in the first half as Texas A&M built a 42-29 lead and shut down the normally efficient Utah State offense. Utah State never got untracked, shooting 38 percent — well below their season average of 49 percent — and scored 20 points below their season average.
"We haven't played anybody as good as Texas A&M," Utah State coach Stew Morrill said. "Texas A&M physically dominated us."
David Loubeau added 12 points and B.J. Holmes had 11 for Texas A&M, which also dominated the rebounding.
"It all came down to defense," A&M coach Mark Turgeon said. "I was on them pretty hard in practice this week. We did it one game. Now we have to do it again on Sunday."
Utah State (27-8) lost its fifth consecutive first-round game. Its last win came in 2001 over Ohio State.
"I thought everybody kind of took their game to another level," A&M's Donald Sloan said. "I thought for 40 minutes that's the best defensively I've seen us in maybe weeks."
Texas A&M was in charge from the start. Consecutive 3-pointers by Middleton keyed a 10-0 run that gave A&M a 14-5 lead. Middleton hit another 3 for a 21-13 lead as Utah State made just six of its first 14 shots.
Jaxon Myaer's basket cut the A&M lead to three points, but Middleton replied with his fourth 3-pointer and Holmes added two as A&M took a 30-20 lead.
Texas A&M closed with a 10-4 run over the final 4 minutes for a 42-29 halftime lead. They shot 56 percent in the first half, including making 6 of 12 3-point attempts. Utah State shot 41 percent in the first half, and was outrebounded 22-11.
"We did not do a good job in terms of locating him in the corner," Utah State's Tyler Newbold said of Middleton. "We didn't rotate fast enough."
Utah State hung around in the second half, as Texas A&M cooled off a bit. Nate Bendall's rebound and layup brought the Aggies within 49-42 with 12:33 left.
But Texas A&M scored eight straight points to build a 57-42 lead with 9 minutes left.
Jared Quayle's first field goal since he scored Utah State's first two baskets cut the A&M lead to 57-47. But A&M rattled off eight straight points, capped by Holmes' 3-pointer, for a 65-47 lead with 4 minutes left.
"I was shocked how strong and physical they were," said Tai Wesley, who led Utah State with 14 points. "They were really trying to throw us around."
Sloan was the fourth A&M player in double figures with 10 points. The Aggies shot 49 percent in the game, making 8 of 18 3-point attempts and 11 of 14 free throws.
South Regional
No. 4 Purdue 72, No. 13 Siena 64
At Spokane, Wash., Keaton Grant ignited a decisive 20-3 run with 11 points to begin the second half, and Purdue rallied past giant-killer Siena despite playing without do-it-all forward Robbie Hummel.
No. 1 Duke 73, No. 16 Ark.-Pine Bluff 44
At Jacksonville, Fla., Kyle Singler had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Jon Scheyer scored 13 and No. 1 seed Duke rolled past Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
East Regional
Cornell 78, Temple 65
At Jacksonville, Fla., Cornell lived up to its billing, showing why it's the best team to come out of the Ivy League in more than a decade.
Down to their last chance to experience success on college basketball's biggest stage, seniors Ryan Wittman, Louis Dale and Jeff Foote led 12th-seeded Cornell to its first win in five NCAA tournament appearances Friday,
No. 4 Wisconsin 53, No. 13 Wofford 49
At Jacksonville, Fla., Jon Leuer scored 20 points, including a jumper and two free throws in the final 17 seconds, and fourth-seeded Wisconsin eked out a win over No. 13 seed Wofford.
No. 2 W. Virginia 77, No. 15 Morgan State 50
At Buffalo, N.Y., Kevin Jones scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half to lead second-seeded West Virginia over No. 15 seed Morgan State.
West Regional
No. 6 Xavier 65, No. 11 Minnesota 54
At Milwaukee, Jordan Crawford scored 17 of his 28 points in the second half and Xavier kept up its run of tournament success by beating Minnesota.
No. 3 Pittsburgh 89, No. 14 Oakland 66
At Milwaukee, Jermaine Dixon and Gilbert Brown scored 17 points apiece and Pittsburgh avoided becoming the latest Big East powerhouse to get knocked off in the first round, overcoming a slow start to rout Oakland.
No. 8 Gonzaga 67, No. 9 Florida State 60
At Buffalo, N.Y., Matt Bouldin and eighth-seeded Gonzaga showed Florida State it still has a way to go in its quest to be considered a basketball power.
Midwest Regional
No. 10 Georgia Tech 64, No. 7 Oklahoma State 59
At Milwaukee, Gani Lawal scored 14 points, Derrick Favors came within a rebound of a double-double and the free throw-challenged Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets scored their last 13 points at the line to hold off Oklahoma State.
No. 5 Michigan St. 70, No. 12 N.M. State 67
At Spokane, Wash., Kalin Lucas scored a career-high 25 points and Raymar Morgan emerged from a quiet night by hitting key shots down the stretch as fifth-seeded Michigan State edged No. 12 New Mexico State.
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