RECAP: Memphis bows out to Colorado State in NCAA Tournament first round

Memphis basketball’s season came to an end Friday in Seattle.

The No. 5 seed Tigers (29-6) fell to No. 12 seed Colorado State 78-70 in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 at Climate Pledge Arena. This is Memphis’ second consecutive first-round exit in March Madness after losing to Florida Atlantic during its last appearance in 2023. Penny Hardaway now drops to 1-3 in NCAA Tournament games as the Tigers’ head coach.

Memphis shot 42% overall and 26% at the 3-point line. It also outrebounded CSU 41-34 while recording 16 offensive boards, 10 forced turnovers, 8 assists, 7 steals and 6 blocks. The Tigers missed both starting point guard Tyrese Hunter (foot) and backup Dante Harris (ankle) for the second game in a row. Harris hasn’t played since March 4.

Niko Medved’s team (26-9) shot 42% on field goals and 37% from beyond the arc. It also compiled 16 forced turnovers, 14 assists, 13 offensive rebounds, 8 steals and a block. Kyan Evans (23), Nique Clifford (14), Jalen Lake (14) and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (12) scored double-digit points for Colorado State.

Here are some takeaways from Memphis’ devastating loss.

Dain Dainja takes over first half

Many predicted that the 6-foot-9 center would feast on Colorado State’s small frontcourt, and those forecasts proved accurate.

Dainja torched the Rams with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks on 7-for-9 shooting in the first half alone. Dainja, PJ Haggerty (6), Moussa Cisse (4) and Nick Jourdain (3) combined for 18 first-half rebounds, helping Memphis garner a 22-12 edge on the boards before halftime. The Tigers also grabbed 8 offensive rebounds compared to just 4 for Colorado State in the opening period.

Memphis shot 50% from the field in the first 20 minutes, holding CSU to 37.9% in the process. The Tigers led the Rams 36-31 at intermission. Dainja finished the game with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Colby Rogers lights up CSU

Penny Hardaway called Rogers Memphis’ most important player besides Haggerty and Dainja in March Madness Tuesday. Rogers, despite largely struggling in conference play, showed why against CSU.

The 6-foot-3 guard compiled 12 first-half points while shooting 5-for-6 overall and 2-for-3 from 3-point range. Besides him and Dainja, no Tiger scored more than 7 points in the opening period. Rogers hit four of Memphis’ six 3-pointers in the game.

Rogers sported a noticeable limp throughout the second half, however, and ended the contest with 18 points.

Memphis fades away in second half

Memphis’ offense turned to dust after halftime.

Rogers’ third 3-pointer put the Tigers up by 7 points with 18:32 remaining, but Colorado State cut the deficit to a point with a 6-0 run over the following minute and 17 seconds. PJ Carter later extended the lead back to 3 with two free throws at the 15:10 mark, only for Evans to drill a game-tying 3-pointer eight seconds later.

That was the first basket of a 9-0 run that gave the Rams a 54-48 lead with 12:44 to play. Evans drilled two more from beyond the arc over the following four minutes to put CSU up by 10 points with a touch under nine minutes left. Memphis never got within 6 points for the rest of the contest, and Colorado State led by as many as 12.

The Tigers shot just 34.5% in the final period compared to the Rams’ 46.4%. Haggerty, who didn’t score for the first nine minutes of the second half, tallied 18 points on 7-for-23 shooting (1-of-8 from 3-point range). No Tiger besides him, Rogers and Dainja scored more than 7 points. Baraka Okojie, who made his second straight start in place of Hunter, didn’t score in 22 minutes. Nick Jourdain only logged 2 points in 22 minutes, fouling out with 2:29 to play.

Colorado State outscored Memphis 47-34 in the final 20 minutes.