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PHILADELPHIA — Team Utah’s last run in The Basketball Tournament ended with a Round of 16 loss in 2015.
Tim Drisdom wasn’t going to let that happen again, no matter their seeding.
Drisdom scored 21 points on 7-of-9 3-point shooting to help seventh-seeded Team Utah cruise to a 93-81 win Friday over No. 3-seed Few Good Men, the Gonzaga alumni squad, at Philadelphia University. The former Utes booked a spot in the final eight of the tournament featuring a $2 million grand prize.
“I’m the guy who hasn’t played in a long time, and I know the scouting report says I’m a reluctant shooter,” said Drisdom, who departed the Runnin’ Utes in 2005. “I told the guys, at some point I have to make some shots. My guys trusted me, and I made them today.”
Justin Hawkins led Utah with 27 points and eight rebounds, and Lawrence Blackledge added 14 points.
During his junior season in 2004-05, Drisdom started 29 games and averaged 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
But the former Ute found his shot again Friday, making 7 of 10 from the field as he only attempted one shot from inside the 3-point arc. Drisdom scored nine-straight in the second half to help the team comprised mostly of Utah alums into the tournament quarterfinals against Team Colorado, which will be streamed live Saturday on WatchESPN.
“Those guys are good,” Drisdom said of the Colorado alums, who also came out of the West regional in Los Angeles. “They have great guard play. We knew they had a chance after we saw them in L.A., and we aren’t surprised.”
Jeremy Pargo led the ex-Zags with a game-high 34 points, four rebounds and four assists. Micah Downs added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
David Stockton — yes, that Stockton — had just two points and one assist with four turnovers for Few Good Men.
Afer holding off the Utah Stallions in overtime of the tournament's opening round, the former Utes went on a 10-point win over No. 2 seed LAUNFD to advance to the Round of 16 in Philadelphia.
Team Utah and Team Colorado will tip off Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT on ESPNU.
