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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s game ended just after it started as No. 25 Colorado overwhelmed the Utes 91-52 in their first road contest of conference play Sunday.
The Buffaloes opened up the game on a 14-2 run behind a pair of 3-pointers by Shane Gatling and Mckinley Wright, and Utah (10-5, 1-2) had little answers to contend with the early double-digit deficit as Colorado (13-3, 2-1) ran away with the game in the first half.
Colorado shot 55% from the field in the first half as Evan Battey and Wright combined for 21 points to nearly outscore the Utes, who only scored 22 points in the half. Utah shot 33% from the field in the first half and struggled on both ends of the court as turnovers mounted and the defense failed to contain Colorado’s scoring in the paint (22 points).
The Buffaloes, who feature the most experienced roster in the Pac-12, continued the scoring onslaught in the second half and outscored Utah 47-30 behind seven total 3-pointers and an additional 24 points in the post. Colorado’s Battey led the team in scoring with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Colorado had three other players score in double figures, including Wright (16 points), D’Shawn Schwartz (14 points) and Tyler Bey (11 points). Battey and Bey also finished with double-doubles in the game, with a combined 22 rebounds.
But it was Wright that dominated the game for the Buffaloes. The junior guard took control of the game and shot 6-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. He added eight assists and seven rebounds in Colorado’s second win of conference play this season.
Utah failed to have any players score in double figures as the team shot 35% from the field. Riley Battin, who was Utah’s leading scorer on the night, only had 8 points and one rebound in the loss. Timmy Allen, the team’s leading scorer for the season, only had 7 points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field and five rebounds.
The Utes had an eight-day break before traveling to Boulder to take on the Buffaloes, but will quickly get back to action on a two-game road trip starting Thursday against No. 24 Arizona and then Arizona State on Saturday.
