Boise State’s quickness kept the Broncos in the game for 30 minutes, but Utah’s size prevailed in a 64-49 win Tuesday night.
The Bronco guards battled injury, but still caused 12 Utah turnovers. Joe Skiffer (shoulder) and Bryan DeFares (hamstring) were not 100 percent, and BSU was without starting point guard C.J. Williams.
Utah’s depth and size wore down Boise State, however. Utah won the rebound margin 35-23 and scored 24 points in the paint. But the game was not in hand until the second half.
Bronco sharpshooter Abe Jackson scored seven of the team’s first nine points, and Boise State led 9-8 with 13:59 left in the first half.
From there on, Jackson, who was averaging 26 points, was held scoreless the rest of the game. Jackson only shot the ball four more times, ending the night with 7 points on 3-8 shooting.
“It was the pride factor,” Nick Jacobson said. “He made some tough shots, but once that happened, we made him work a little harder and limited his looks.”
The two teams traded baskets through the first half, with four lead changes and two ties. But trailing 19-18, the Utes went on an 8-0 run, capped by Jeff Johnsen’s contested jumper at the horn.
Utah’s free throw shooting was suspect in the first half at 3-7, but their 18-20 mark in the second half gave the Utes a comfortable lead.
“Free throws are always easier to shoot when there’s no pressure,” coach Rick Majerus said.
In the second half, Jacobson’s three on Utah’s first possession put the Utes up 10 points. A pair of Booker Nabors free throws cut the lead to four (35-31) with 11:49 remaining.
But Utah struck back.
A Travis Spivey penetration and dish for a Phil Cullen three extended the U lead to eight. Two free throws on a one-and-one by Spivey two possessions later increased the lead to 11, the biggest of the game to that point. Utah converted free throws down the stretch to preserve the 15-point win.
Britton Johnsen led all scorers with 16 points. “I missed a lot of shots, I had open looks,” Johnsen said. “So I decided to drive and that got me to the foul line.”
Jacobson added 14 points on 5-6 shooting. “I’ve been working on my shot before and after practice. I’m just doing what I can to help the team,” he said.
Whereas the offense clicked in the second half, the defense made Majerus happy. Utah held the Broncs to 39.6 percent shooting on 19-48 from the field.
Even though he was pleased, Majerus will not give his team an off-day heading into the holiday.
“They won’t get a Thanksgiving break. [The Ute players] should be thankful they have a job to go to,” he said.
Utah takes on Utah State Nov. 23 in Salt Lake City.