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SALT LAKE CITY — Sunday afternoons are reserved for naps, and it seemed Utah hadn't awoken from their slumber by the time its home game against California started.
The Utes came out lethargic and uninspired, and needed more than 10 minutes of play before the team got into double figures. Utah shot 35% from the field midway through the first half and needed bench player Jaxon Brenchley to give the home team a lead over the lowly Bears, who have only won three games this season.
Brenchley had a team-high 8 points in the first half to give Utah any sense of life.
Utah controlled a 29-24 lead at the halftime break before opening the game up in the second half to pull away from California. The Utes built up a 20-point lead with 9:06 left to play and came away with a 61-46 win at home.
Lazar Stefanovic, who continues to start in the absence of guard Gabe Madsen, finished with a team-high 15 points, which included three 3-pointers, and six assists. Branden Carlson finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Ben Carlson added 11 points and five rebounds.
Utah (16-9, 9-5 Pac-12) outscored California 32-22 in the second half and shot a meager 37% from the field. Both teams finished the game on a four-minute scoring drought and struggled to get any baskets to fall.
Lars Thiemann led the Bears (3-20, 2-10 Pac-12) with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and four rebounds, and Kuany Kuany added 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
