"We came out too slow," Perkins said. "… Defensively, we have to pick it up if we don't want to keep getting killed."
Calling the loss "disappointing in a lot of ways," Utah State coach Tim Duryea credited Ndiaye for helping the Anteaters shoot 48 percent.
"They are not easy to deal with with the big guy," Duryea said. "… You are probably going to play against a 7-6 guy once in your career, if ever, [and] that's how they compromise your defense. It starts right there. You can't play him one-on-one."
After falling behind, 56-37, Utah State used a 22-6 run to give itself a chance.