The Runnin’ Utes handled business against the Alcorn State Braves on Monday, winning by a score of 100-59 in their first game of the regular season at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Twelve Ute players saw minutes with nine players contributing to the scoring effort, showcasing their depth to the Salt Lake fans. The win came without center Lawson Lovering who was ruled out before tip-off after suffering an ankle injury during the Utes exhibition game last Tuesday.
The Runnin’ Utes took control early, outscoring their Southwestern conference opponent 50-31 in the first half. Star senior Gabe Madsen led the way with 19 points, including a last-second three-pointer going into halftime. As a team, Utah hit 10 out of their 20 three-point attempts in the first half, a promising start for a team with ambitions to compete in the Big 12.
Transfers Mike Sharavjamts and Ezra Ausar made immediate impacts. Sharavjamts highlighted a late half 12-3 Utah run with a crucial steal and dunk, while Ausar scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the first half.
The Utes opened up the second half right where they let off, going on a 21-9 run to get the momentum going. From there the Utes never took their foot off the gas, beating the Braves by 41 points. The Utes’ bench unit, led by Keanu Dawes‘ 11-point second-half outburst, outscored Alcorn State’s starters 37-26. Madsen, who finished with a game-high 27 points, including six three-pointers, was subbed out with nearly five minutes remaining, as head coach Craig Smith gave the freshman reps. Notably, freshman forward Ayomide Bamisile scored two late buckets in his college debut.
The Utes ended up with a convincing 100-59 win, advancing to 1-0 on the season. Utah showed why they are a Big 12 program, showcasing their offensive firepower and depth.
Takeaways
The Utes showcased impressive shooting from beyond the arc, finishing with a 50% three-point percentage by hitting 19 of their 38 attempts. Leading the way, the Madsen brothers turned in a performance reminiscent of the Splash Brothers, sinking threes at a combined 58% success rate and igniting excitement among the crowd.
Meanwhile, Miro Little emerged as the team’s most efficient playmaker, dishing out 7 assists and committing just a single turnover, a testament to his court vision and steady decision-making. On the downside, Ausar’s free-throw shooting was inconsistent, as he started the game just 1-for-6 from the line but eventually improved to finish 7-for-12. Finally, The MUSS came out in full force, providing relentless energy and support for the team throughout the night.
The next Runnin’ Utes game will be on Thursday, Nov. 7, against Central Arkansas at 8:30 p.m. in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Students get in free if they bring their UIDs.
