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The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Preseason pounding: Runnin’ Utes win 79-51 in final exhibition game

The Runnin’ Utes used as big a rotation as possible Monday night as they knocked off Northwest Nazarene 79-51 in their final tune-up before the regular season.

Ten Utes logged at least 15 minutes with Johnnie Bryant (27) the only Ute playing more than 22.

The spread out playing time led to spread out points as well, with seven Utes notching seven or more points.

Ute head coach Ray Giacoletti was pleased with his team’s effort, as well as the fact that Nazarene presented a defensive challenge for the young Utes.

“That was a real good team to play tonight because they played a defense that made it tough for us to get entry passes,” Giacoletti said. “I thought (we) were pretty solid.”

For the second consecutive exhibition game, senior swingman Bryant Markson led the team in scoring.

Markson poured in 15 points, 13 of which were in the first half. Against Whitman in the exhibition opener Markson had 21 points.

He also finished with a team-high six rebounds, as the Utes outboarded the overmatched Crusaders 40-25.

Markson had a scary moment in the second half when he inadvertently stepped on the ball.

He fell to the ground, clutching the same knee that he had had surgery on two seasons ago.

“When I was going for the ball, I stepped on it and just hyperextended my knee,” Markson said. “I had surgery on that leg so I can’t bend it that far.”

Markson admitted after the game that at the time of the fall his train of thought immediately focused on U quarterback Brian Johnson’s injury on Saturday, but it turned out to be a false alarm.

Markson got back up, and he will be good to go for the Utes’ regular season opener on Friday.

Like the first exhibition game, the Utes’ centers got into the scoring act, as Luke Nevill and Chris Jackson combined for 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.

The duo managed to overcome the smaller Crusaders, whose athleticism was a nuisance for the two 7-footers.

“It’s difficult for a big guy like me or (Jackson) when you are matched up against a guy who is 6’6″ and really athletic,” Nevill said. “You aren’t going to see these kind of guys in the regular season. It’s going to be bigger guys, using more of the body.”

The Utes will start playing games that count this Friday when Texas State visits the Huntsman Center.

The Bobcats are a young squad that will only suit up three letterman from last season’s 14-14 team.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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