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(AP file photo)
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Runnin' Utes (6-7) played tenacious defense in their win over UT-San Antonio (8-3) Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center. Utah held the Roadrunners to a 33% shooting performance that produced a season low 47 points. The win snaps the Runnin' Utes' three game skid.
The night belonged to senior guard Luka Drca (Belgrade, Serbia) who cashed in a career-high 19 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists. Drca was money from long range knocking down three of his four three-point tries. On the other end of the floor Drca led the Utes' shut down defense chipping in two steals and and block.
After the game Coach Jim Boylen credited Drca's play, "He (Drca) never stops working, I'm so happy for him. You love it when your seniors have success."
Fellow senior Kim Tillie (Cagnes-sur-Mer, France) helped the Utes get off to a quick start scoring all nine of his points in the first half. Tillie also lead the team in rebounding again with 5 boards which falls just under his season average of six per game. Junior guard Carlon Brown (Riverside, Calif.) made it to double-digits scoring 10 points to go along with his four rebounds and three assists.
The game Tuesday night provided David Foster (Lake Forest, Calif) and Jay Watkins (Memphis,Tenn.) a chance to return from their respective injuries. Foster who came into the game with a 45 blocks on the season added six more to his total and now sits at fourth in the nation with 51swatted shots on the year. Watkins who played 14 minutes off the bench scored eight points four of which came on on two back-to-back monster dunks.
The Roadrunners hit a season low 16 field goals with only two of them coming from behind the three-point arch. It seemed as if Utah had a hand up for every shot UT-SA took. In one 11 minute stretch in the 2nd half the visitors didn't score a single field goal. Junior guard Devin Gibson lead UT-SA with 15 points, seven on which came from the charity stripe. Omar Johnson the 5'7" senior floor general lead the Roadrunners in assists with two to go along with his team leading five rebounds.
This win provides the Runnin' Utes with their fifth at home this season. Utah will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take on LSU from the Southeastern Conference Saturday night. Utah blew the Tigers out at the Huntsman Center last season 91-61. LSU is 8-4 so far this season with all eight of their wins coming at home in the Maravich Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7p.m. CST.
