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SALT LAKE CITY — Washington State scored the first points of the game, but it would be the only time the Cougars would lead during the game against Utah Saturday night.
Utah (8-8, 2-2) would use a 22-5 run in the first half over a nearly 8-minute stretch to climb to a comfortable 20-point lead at the half. The Utes would continue the scoring onslaught in the second half, as they rolled to a dominant 88-70 over the Cougars to split the Washington series.
The Utes were balanced offensively but were led in scoring by freshman Timmy Allen, who finished with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. In all, Utah had six players finish the game in double figures, including Both Gach (14 points), Charles Jones (11 points), Riley Battin (11 points), Sedrick Barefield (10 points) and Parker Van Dyke (10 points).
Coming off Utah’s Thursday night loss to Washington, in which they missed 24 3-pointers and struggled to score just over 50 points in regulation, the Utes had nine 3-pointers on the night — seven of which came in the first half. Most of Utah’s points on the night (40 of their total) came inside the post as the Cougars allowed the Utes to penetrate with ease.
Utah managed 21 points off of Washington State’s 13 turnovers in an otherwise sloppy affair for both teams, and would finished with 24 fast-break points.
Washington State would outscore the Utes 46-44 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Utah’s first-half lead. The Cougars were led in scoring by CJ Elleby, who finished with 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
The Utes will have a week off from play before welcoming Colorado to the Huntsman Center on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m.
