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The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Runnin’ Utes Hang on to Beat Wazzu 74-70

  • Because as head coach Larry Krystkowiak always mentions, prior wins don’t mean a whole lot. The Runnin’ Utes returned home after back-to-back losses to take on the Washington State Huskies, a team they beat earlier in the season by 41 points. However, that wasn’t the case Thursday night in the Huntsman Center as Utah had to hang on for a 74-70 win.

The University of Utah men’s basketball team held an 11 point lead during the second half, but the Cougars took a brief three point lead, and Krystkowiak attributes that to his players being selfish.

“A little bit of disrespecting the game,” Krystkowiak said. “In the second half we had two comfortable leads,10 or 12 points,  and then it was ugly. We had guys who were going to drive in and flip shots up, and everyone wanted to see if they could  be the guy to get this to 14 or 16, completely against what we’re talking about doing.”

The Utes 51 percent from the floor, but they were 13.3 percent from three-point range. David Collette finished with a season-high of 22 points, and Lorenzo Bonam followed with 13 points. Kyle Kuzma chipped in 10 points, all of which came in the second half. Parker Van Dyke got the start instead of JoJo Zamora, and he finished with six points.

As the Utes struggled to find their footing at the beginning of the game they amassed six turnovers in the opening eight minutes — they finished with 14 turnovers overall — and the Cougars worked their way to 19-9 lead.

“It wasn’t a communication issue to start the game, it was some crappy basketball,” Krystkowiak said. “Forcing some shots, turnovers, and we couldn’t guard them in transition.”

Missed free throws and more turnovers continued to plague the Utes, and they took forced shots. However, Utah eventually went on a 9-2 run to make it a three point game, 21-18.

A couple of Utah baskets and a pair of free throws made it a one point game as Washington State was hanging on to a 23-22 lead.

Bonam then hit a couple of more free throws to give Utah its first lead of the night, 24-23. Gabe Bealer extended the lead to three points after hitting a long jumper.

The Utes continued to build on their lead, and with about two minutes left in the first half they were up 34-23 as Washington State failed went into a five and a half minute scoring drought. The Cougars ended their drought by knocking down a pair of three-pointers, but Utah had a 35-29 lead at halftime.

Although WSU got on the board first in the second half, Utah soon made its lead nine points 44-35. However, a Washington State layup and three-pointer cut the lead to five points, 45-40, after the Utes missed another free throw in that span. Utah managed to get the lead back up to nine points, and after a lackluster first half for Kuzma, he hit a layup that gave Utah a 53-42 lead.

After both teams made a three-pointer, WSU went on a 10-0 run to make it a one point game, 56-55. Utah ended its scoring drought after Kuzma hit a floater in the middle of the key.

A few plays later, a Cougar three-pointer gave Washington State its first lead of the second half, 60-59. Collette had an opportunity to retake the lead for the Utes, but went 1-of-2 from the line, and the game was tied at 60 with about four and a half minutes to go.

A three-pointer from Wazzu gave them a 65-62 edge, but Utah rattled off five straight points to take a 67-65 lead. Washington State had a chance to tie the game at 69, but missed a late free throw with under a minute to go. Collette made a layup to give Utah a three point cushion, 71-68, but a long Washington State jumper cut the lead to one point again.

Kuzma knocked down a pair of free throws, and a long three-pointer didn’t go for the Cougars as the Utes stuck it out for the four point win.

“I think that was our worst defensive showing of the year,” Kuzma said.

Utah will be back in action in the Huntsman Center on Saturday as it hosts Washington at 2:30 p.m.

[email protected]

@kbrenneisen

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