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SALT LAKE CITY — Following a disappointing performance Wednesday against No. 4 Arizona, the Runnin’ Utes corrected past errors and competed in the team’s best performance of the season Sunday by beating the Arizona State Sun Devils, 86-63.
The game was never in question.
Utah jumped out to a quick 20-6 lead, shooting 71 percent from the field at one point, while the Sun Devils shot an abysmal 17 percent from the field. Utah eventually took a 27-point lead with 2:13 left in the first half and never looked back.
“We wanted to put a lot of emphasis on the defensive end,” head coach Larry Krystkowiak said after the game. “Not many teams can hold them (Arizona State) to six field goals, but we were keyed in on doing that. Delon (Wright) and Jordan (Loveridge) bounced back offensively as well.”
In Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Wildcats, Wright and Loveridge had one of their worst nights of the season, shooting a combined 5 of 21 for a total of 19 points, and a combined eight turnovers.
It was the team’s missed free throws, however, that ultimately kept them from upsetting the Wildcats.
“I told everybody in our locker room, I hope everyone is taking a good look. It’s not on Jordan, he’s a part of our team, but everybody in there had issues,” Krystkowiak said following the loss to Arizona. “As long as everyone is critical of their own performances I’m not here to criticize anybody else or try to stir anybody up cause we’re starting four sophomores.”
Princeton's block was a turning point. He really brought the emotion and it got the crowd going. He's quite the weapon for us.
–Larry Krystkowiak
Loveridge and Wright bounced back and lead the Utes to a nice home victory Sunday as the team prepares for the Pac-12 Tournament in a couple weeks. Wright neared a triple-double in his performance, scoring 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He added three blocks and steals to his stat line. Loveridge bounced back with an 18-point performance, adding six rebounds and two blocks.
While the performance of Loveridge and Wright is welcome news for the team that relies on them for much of the scoring, it was the performances of senior Renan Lenz and junior Princeton Onwas that gave the team a surprising lift.
After a midseason slump, losing playing time, Onwas got the start Sunday over Dakarai Tucker. Onwas’ presence brought an ideal amount of energy to a team that needed to start out quickly. Onwas had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, but he will be remembered for his two blocks that got the Huntsman Center rocking. The first came in the first two minutes of play as Utah went on a 7-0 run.
“Princeton’s block was a turning point,” Krystkowiak said. “He really brought the emotion and it got the crowd going. He's quite the weapon for us.”
Also having an impact was Lenz, who scored a quick 10 points coming off the bench after struggling this season in Pac-12 competition. Lenz finished the game with 14 points and three rebounds. His performance Sunday was one of his most productive all season.
“Renan has stuck with it and he's probably the most positive guy on the team,” Krystkowiak said. “With his family here, for the first time ever, it was supposed to happen that way. I probably played Jordan too much at the 4 and didn't go to Renan like I should. I needed him to be ready and he responded.”
Utah improves to 18-9 on the season and 7-8 in conference play. The win gives Utah the seventh spot in Pac-12 standings with a chance to move into the top half of the conference standings if it gets a win against Colorado on Saturday.
Saturday’s game will be the last game of the home season The Utes will honor Lenz, who is the team’s only senior.
