The three-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes came into Salt Lake City this Sunday looking to advance to the NIT quarterfinals against the two-seeded Utah Utes. Utah started the game on fire, knocking down seven first-half three-pointers and taking a 48-36 lead into halftime. The second half saw much of the same for Utah, as they were able to grow their lead to as much as 18 points, limiting the explosive Hawkeye offense and stringing together runs that eventually propelled the Utes to victory, 91-82.
First half
The first five points of the game for the Utes belonged to Deivon Smith, as he was able to convert an and-one opportunity and knock down a smooth mid-range jumper to start the game. Both teams exchanged buckets back and forth throughout the onset of this matchup until Utah was able to grab a six-point advantage on a Smith steal and kick to Cole Bajema for the three-pointer with 11:07 remaining in the half.
Iowa attempted to cut into the Utah lead with a high-paced transition offensive attack, but the Utes were able to stand strong defensively and capitalize on open looks from three-point range, extending their lead on seemingly every possession. The high tempo of both offenses caused plenty of defensive lapses throughout the beginning of the game, but Utah’s three-point shooting was the difference maker throughout the first half.
Heading into the final six minutes of the half, Gabe Madsen sat at just five points, but two deep three-point bombs, six free throws, and a dunk in the final 5:35 gave him 19 points on the night and helped Utah coast into halftime with a commanding 48-36 lead.
Madsen was the catalyst for the Utah offense towards the end of the half, but stellar play by the entire Utah rotation played a massive role in the 51.5% shooting from the field in the first half. Smith finished the half with 10 points on 4-5 shooting while dishing out six assists and grabbing five defensive rebounds. Bajema contributed to the three-point barrage by knocking down two deep bombs on just three shots. The majority of the scoring came from the Utah backcourt, but four points apiece from Branden Carlson and Keba Keita rounded out the Utah scoring attack headed into halftime.
Iowa’s offense revolves around a high-tempo play style, getting up shots early in the shot clock and tiring out the defense. Utah did an exceptional job in the first half, limiting the Iowa fast-break opportunities and turning the ball over just four times throughout the first 20 minutes. If Utah wanted their season to stay alive, the second half needed to feature more tenacious defensive energy and offensive patience.
Second Half
Despite the Utes leading by 12 points at halftime, Iowa came out of the locker room hot in the first seven minutes, cutting the lead to just five with 12:44 to go in the game. The Utes seemed flustered early on in the second half by the Iowa offensive attack but were able to settle in, get Carlson involved and take back control of the game. Two free throws and back-to-back dunks by Carlson and Lawson Lovering extended the Utah lead to 66-56, again seeing the Utes grab a double-digit advantage with 10:57 remaining.
Three-point shooting is a strength for both Iowa and Utah, which meant that whoever held the lead in that category at the end of the night would have a massive advantage. Iowa tried to keep pace from deep but could not find their stride as Utah continued to stay hot. In just a 1:11 span, Madsen knocked down two three-pointers on defensive breakdowns by Iowa, while Hunter Erickson found himself open for three as well, helping extend Utah’s lead to 15 points. For good measure, Madsen came down and knocked down another deep three-point bomb to give the Utes their biggest lead of the night at 79-61 with just 7:05 to go in the contest.
Down the stretch, both teams struggled to get anything going offensively as Utah chose to slow down the pace and eat up as much clock as they could. The Hawkeyes tried desperately to make a run, but the stout Utah defense and clutch free throw shooting by Smith down the stretch was the difference maker in this one. When it was all said and done, Utah came away with a hard-fought win, 91-82.
Utes Stuffing the State Sheet
The box score for the Utes was undeniably impressive, as Madsen put up a career-high 31 points, knocking down seven three-pointers and subsequently matching the three-point output of the entire Iowa team. Madsen wasn’t the only Ute to put up astounding numbers, as Smith was able to record his fourth triple-double of the season, finishing with 19 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds to help pace the Utes to victory.
Carlson got more involved in the second half, finishing with 12 points, while Bajema was able to pour in nine. Lawson Lovering had an all-around great game as he scored six points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. Erickson provided a spark off the bench once again for Utah, as he scored seven points, which rounded out the majority of the Utah scoring.
What’s next for the Utes?
Utah will once again host another NIT game as they welcome the VCU Rams into town. This matchup will tip off at 7:00 p.m. MST on Wednesday, March 27, at the John M. Huntsman Center. The Utes will look to take down a pesky VCU team with a trip to the NIT semifinals on the line. Don’t miss any of the action this Wednesday on ESPN2.
