Road woes continue: Men’s basketball team fall to Northridge
Despite 19 points from freshman Jaycee Carroll and 18 points from junior Nate Harris, the Utah State basketball team came up short Saturday, falling to Cal State Northridge 70-67.
In the end, the difference between winning and losing came down to free throws – 14 for Utah State and 35 for Northridge.
“I’m dumbfounded by the stats,” head coach Stew Morrill said. “They’re the ones running around and overplaying … normally we make more free throws than our opponents attempt.”
After a 23-point performance Thursday night against Pacific, Spencer Nelson only managed eight points for the Aggies Saturday.
Fatigue was a concern for Nelson and the rest of the Aggie starters Saturday after a grueling double-overtime loss, in which the starters played a vast majority of the minutes, two nights before.
Morrill said the bench play performed better Saturday against the Matadors, combining for 20 points, but it just wasn’t enough.
“We didn’t make the plays and they did,” Morrill said. “I don’t know how else to say it.”
The loss was the Aggies’ second straight and fifth overall, dropping them to 2-3 in Big West Conference play.
All five of the Ag losses came away from the Spectrum.
“When you lose close games it’s heartbreaking,” Morrill said. “[Games] are always a struggle on the road and we’ve got to get over that hump.”
The team will look to rebound at home this week against Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside.
“It’s always tough when you have to get back to work after disappointing losses,” Morrill said. “You really have two choices. You can sit around and feel sorry for yourself, which does you absolutely no good.
“Or you can get a little irritated and try and get better. And hopefully that’s the course of action we’re taking.”
Thursday’s game will tip-off at 7 p.m. in the Spectrum.
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