Runnin' Utes Defeat Carroll College 86-62 In Exhibition Opener

Saturday, November 6

Salt Lake City, Utah

4:00 PM

University of Utah

Carroll College (Exb.)

Runnin' Utes Defeat Carroll College 86-62 In Exhibition Opener

11/6/2004 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 6, 2004

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY - Sophomore forward Andrew Bogut had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead Utah to an 86-62 win over Carroll College in the Utes' exhibition season opener. It was Ray Giacoletti's first game as Utah's head coach.

Four Utes scored in double figures. Senior guard Marc Jackson had 18 points and three assists. Richard Chaney, a junior from Los Angeles, had 16 points while making both three-point attempts. Junior forward Bryant Markson elevated for a couple of impressive dunks en route to scoring 15 points in a starting role.

Carroll College, an NAIA school in Helena, Mont., had a 5-0 record entering the game. But the Fighting Saints had a tough time in hanging with the Utes, picked second in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll. Utah shot 69 percent from the field and 67 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range. The Utes also connected on 10-of-13 free throws (77 percent) and had a 30-18 advantage on the boards.

Andy Brown paced the Fighting Saints with 15 points. Dallas Leslie came off the bench to hit 4-of-5 three-pointers and contribute 14 points.

Holding a 5-4 lead just over two minutes into the game, Utah went on a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to pull ahead 18-6 with 13:47 remaining in the first half. The run included three-pointers by Markson, Chaney and Jackson.

The Utes stretched their lead to 18 points inside the final six minutes of the half. Utah went on an 11-2 run to take a 45-27 lead with 3:18 to play in the first half. Bogut had six points during that stretch, making a pair of free throws, following up a missed jumper by Chaney, and throwing down a dunk.

"I thought our effort was good," said Giacoletti. "Defensively we've got to get better, but its early in the year where you can practice into it, and we're trying to extend our defense a little bit more than the guys are used to. But, it gives us a measuring tool to go back and be able to watch, and get better from. I thought we were better in the half court defensively in the second half."

When asked about the team's progress since the start of practice, Giacoletti responded, "I think I'm pleased. I don't know if you're ever really happy with where you're at, but it's reality. This is where we're at. We're going to take a hard look at the tape, and we've got a week now to try to get better for next Saturday."

Utah plays its second and final exhibition game against Western State College on Saturday, Nov. 13 at noon in the Huntsman Center. The Utes open the regular season against Stony Brook in Salt Lake City on Nov. 19.