It came down to the wire, but thanks to an 11-2 run from the Utes and a game-winning shot from Lorenzo Bonam, Utah got its first Pac-12 win against Colorado, 56-54.
Head coach Larry Krystkowiak was happy to see his team pull out a win on the road, especially since dropping their first one against Stanford.
“It was a slugfest,” Krystkowiak said in a postgame interview with ESPN 700. “We made enough plays and we didn’t quit. We had a chance in the second half to cash in and we talked about making stops. We got out and scored some points and it was fun.”
Bonam lead the team with 17 points and also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kyle Kuzma was the only other Utah player to score in double digits with 12 points.
Overall, the team shot 40.4 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 11 times.
After both teams went 0-for-9 in the opening minutes of the game, Kuzma was finally able to find the bottom of the net for the first basket of the game.
Utah went up by five points until the Buffs managed to take their own one point lead. Utah was able to regain control, but Colorado drained a three pointer to go back on top and the lead began to alternate between the two teams.
Although Poeltl got handed the ball early on, the Utes failed to get it to him for the rest of the first half and he did not score any points. Then, when he did attempt to drive to the hole, he got called for an offensive foul and soon after got called for his second, sending him to the bench with 3:33 left.
Neither team was able to make any sort of run. Utah’s largest lead was four points and Colorado’s was three points. The Utes had a 26-24 lead going into halftime.
Turnovers were a problem early on, as the Utes racked up nine in the first 20 minutes.
The second half started completely opposite the first, with both teams making their early attempts. However, Colorado scored more and took a four point lead with over 16 minutes to go. The Buffs kept this lead for about three minutes until the they drained a three to make it a seven point game and eventually got their lead up to nine points.
Poeltl finally recorded his first points five minutes into the second half. Utah came back to make it a three point game after Jordan Loveridge made a pair of three pointers and Kuzma got a wide open dunk. Colorado bounced back to get its lead back up to seven.
Poeltl got back in the action and scored a couple of free throws and found Bonam for an open three pointer as the Utes got within two points. Bonam was then able to tie the game as he found an opening for a layup.
Poetlt soon found the basket to give the lead back to the Utes at 54-52. The Buffs answered back to tie up the game and after a miscue from both teams on offense, Utah had the ball for the final shot.
During the timeout when Krystkowiak called on Bonam’s number, Bonam was more than ready for the pressure. On the court, he went off a pick, drove to his left and got the shot off.
“I said, ‘I’m about to score the ball,’” Bonam said in a postgame interview on ESPN 700. “From high school to junior college, that was me. For me to get that in the Division I level, that was everything for me.”
Krystkowiak felt like the ball hung on the rim for an eternity and is proud of Bonam for battling through some pain.
“It’s kind of surreal to see it all come together,” Krystkowiak said in a postgame interview with ESPN 700. “He’s got an incredible touch.”
The Utes take the floor again Thursday night at home against Oregon.
@kbrenneisen