Runnin' Utes Top Findlay in Exhbition, 83-70

Saturday, November 7

Salt Lake City

12:00 PM

University of Utah

Findlay (Exh.)

11/7/2009 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 7, 2009

Box Score | Quotes

SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah men's basketball team defeated Findlay by a score of 83-70 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center Saturday in preseason exhibition play. Senior forward Kim Tillie led the Utes with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while the Oilers' Greg Avery scored a game-high 21.

Tillie shot 8-of-12 from the field and hit both of his free throws in 21 minutes of action. His 18 points and 12 rebounds both mark career-high efforts and combine for his first career double-double, despite not counting toward the official NCAA statistics. Just behind him was junior guard Carlon Brown with 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked a shot.

Sophomore center David Foster contributed eight points and seven rebounds, while freshman guard Marshall Henderson hit three 3-pointers for nine points, while handing out two helpers, blocking a shot and making a steal. Senior guard Luka Drca led the Utes with seven assists, while redshirt freshman Jason Washburn had a game-high four blocks.

The Runnin' Utes also got very good contributions from sophomore guards Jordan Cyphers (8 pts, 4 rebs) and Jace Tavita (2 pts, 2 rebs), who were heralded by head coach Jim Boylen as being the key to Utah's victory.

As a team, Utah shot .478 (32-of-67) overall while holding defending NCAA Div. II national champion Findlay to .360 (27-of-75) from the field. The Utes, who ranked third in the nation from the free-throw line last year, went 14-of-17 (.824) from the charity stripe.

Utah out-rebounded the Oilers, 56-32, including 12-7 on the offensive glass. The Utes recorded 17 assists but turned it over 19 times. Findlay had nine helpers and eight turnovers. Utah blocked eight shots and made five steals, while Findlay registered 11 steals.

In addition to Avery, Findlay got double-digit scoring efforts from Jack Smith and Rob Marsden, who each had 12 points. Nathan Hyde was the Oilers' top rebounder with six boards.

The Utes open the regular season at the Huntsman Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, against Idaho.