Cal Poly lights up Ags
Aggie forward Stephen DuCharme tied his career-high with 22 points, but USU defensive lapses and ?? 3-pointers by the Cal Poly Mustangs boosted the hosts to an 83-69 victory Thursday night.
“Defensively we were gone,” DuCharme said in a post-game radio interview. “We were in space, some of us.”
Cal Poly had four players score in double figures. Leading them were Titus Shelton and Lorenzo Keeler, both of whom had 19 points.
Dawin Whiten had 17 points and Chaz Thomas had 14 points for the Mustangs. Cal Poly improved to 2-2 on the season. USU is also 2-2.
In the second half the Mustangs converted 7-of-12 3-pointers to help them outscore the Aggies 52-31.
The game was tied 36-36 early in the second half, but a Thomas lay up then put the Mustangs up. They never trailed after that and had their next 18 points come from 3-pointers. For the game Cal Poly shot 48 percent from beyond the arc.
The Aggies, who were the pre-season favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference, entered Thursday’s game with a 15-1 record against the Mustangs of the Big West Conference.
“They were lighting us up,” said DuCharme, who also pulled down 10 rebounds. “It’s hard to pull out on top when you have a team shooting like that. Defensively we’ve got to come together.”
Jaycee Carroll had 18 points and was the only Aggie other than DuCharme in double figures.
USU guard Desmond Stephens scored six, while Pooh Williams, DeUndrae Spraggins, Tai Wesley and Modou Niang each put in four points.
The Aggies held a one-point lead at the half thanks to a DuCharme bucket with three second remaining before the break.
The team is still coming together, DuCharme said.
“Give it some time,” DuCharme said. “We weren’t holding up strong enough (defense). I don’t know what to say. Defensively we broke down to easily. We’re working hard, don’t get me wrong.
“I just think sometimes maybe we’re working too hard. Some of the guys are out there scared to make a mistake and defensively we just lose it. We’ve got to help the new guys get with it.”
The Aggies are at UC Irvine Saturday night.
-samuel.hislop@agggiemail.usu.edu