Runnin' Utes and Wildcats Set to Battle in Beehive Classic

Saturday, December 14

Salt Lake City, UT

2:00 PM

University of Utah

Weber State

Runnin' Utes and Wildcats Set to Battle in Beehive Classic

12/12/2019 10:44 AM | Men's Basketball

Utah Game Notes Pac-12 Notes Weber State Notes Big Sky Notes

The Utah men’s basketball team is set to face Weber State in Beehive Classic Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. (MT).

OPENING TIP
The University of Utah rides a three-game win-streak as it readies to battle Weber State in the Beehive Classic this Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. inside Vivint Smart Home Arena. Kate Scott and Dan Belluomini will have the call on the Pac-12 Network in the first of two round-robin games. BYU and #RV/RV Utah State will follow at 6 p.m.

Saturday's contest will serve as the 41st meeting between the two programs and first since 2011. In the 47 years the two schools have duked it out on the basketball court, this Saturday will serve as the first time the battle will be played on a neutral court.

TIMMY BUCKETS
Utah sophomore Timmy Allen was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week after averaging 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists to help the Runnin' Utes remain undefeated at home with a come from behind win over rival BYU (102-95) in overtime and dominant 98-67 win over Central Arkansas last week. It was Allen's first player of the week honor of his career and the first Ute to earn the honor since Justin Bibbins on Jan. 22, 2018, and first underclassmen from Utah since Jakob Poeltl (Feb. 2016).

The Mesa, Ariz., product first dropped a career-high 27 points to go with is five rebounds and five assists to help Utah erase a 16-point deficit against archrival BYU in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The 6-6 forward registered 14 of his career-high 27 points in the second half – including six of the team's nine points in the final 2:29 minutes of regulation.

Three days later, Allen had his way offensively against Central Arkansas and scored 24 points in just 26 minutes of action for the Utes. He also finished with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. In addition, Allen was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line against the Bears.

Our @pac12 Player Of The Week @timmybuckets35 is ranked 2??nd in the Pac-12 Conference in PPG.#GoUtes???? #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/PL7Hsu4Esf
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) December 9, 2019

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Heading into Saturday's game, Weber State sits at 3-5 overall with a 1-5 mark against Division I teams and 1-1 record against in-state teams. WSU opened the season with a loss to then-No. 17/19 Utah State before recently defeating Utah Valley on the road. Most importantly, the Wildcats are 0-3 on the year in neutral site games and last won a non-conference neutral site game on Nov. 16 when it defeated Central Michigan 78-76 in the Jankanoo Jam. Weber State did win its opening-round neutral site game against Portland State in the conference tournament last season.

WSU has a balanced team in regards to experience and led by senior Jerrick Harding, who is averaging 20.1 points and 3.6 rebounds with a .526 shooting clip and team-best 15 shots from deep. The 6-1 guard has done most of his damage in the last five games, posting 23.0 points per game with a .533 clip while knocking down 12 of his 15 triples during that stretch.

Senior Cody John is the other Wildcat averaging in double-figures with 10.9 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game. The 6-3 guard is second on the team with 11 made 3-pointers (.407) and 1-of-6 players to have 10-plus assists on the year. Kham Davis is the other starter for WSU in the top-3, averaging 8.4 points and tied for the team-high with 4.4 rebounds per game. Tim Fuller is one of the more effective players off the bench for head coach Randy Rahe, averaging 7.1 points with 4.4 rebounds and an efficient 28-of-40 (.700) from the field.

Rahe is no stranger to the Utes, having served as an assistant under Ray Giacoletti at Utah from 2004-06. During Rahe's time on The Hill, the Runnin' Utes won the Mountain West Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Utes also saw Andrew Bogut earn National Player of the Year honors and become the top-pick in the 2005 NBA Draft during his tenure.

LAST TIME OUT
Led by Timmy Allen's 24 points, 8 rebounds and five assists, the Utah men's basketball team cruised past Central Arkansas last Saturday 98-67. The Utes' defense clamped down on the Bears, holding them to just 9-of-37 (.243) shooting from the floor in the second half and forced a whopping 22 turnovers.

Five other players were in double-figures for Utah, including a new season-high 18 points from Alfonso Plummer thanks to his 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Both Gach and Mikael Jantunen each added 13 points while Jaxon Brenchley posted 11 points with Riley Batting holding up the rear with 10 points of his own.

Can officially confirm that @timmybuckets35 is a bucket-getter. ??

Allen showed out at home leading the Runnin' Utes with 2??4?? points, 8?? boards, and 5?? assists. pic.twitter.com/Bl0mZ0tXvk
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) December 8, 2019

As a team, the Utes shot 50.7-percent from the floor with a .367 shooting clip from downtown and assisted on 20 of the team's 35 made field goals. Utah was also able to take advantage of the Bears down the floor and outscored them 32-4 in fast-break points.

UP NEXT
After playing Weber State in the first of three neutral site games, the Runnin' Utes will have their hands full with No. 8/9 Kentucky on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m. (MT) as part of the Neon Hoops Showcase benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. Dave Pasch will have the call on the nationally televised game on ESPN2 while Bill Walton serves as the analyst at T-Mobile Arena.

LOOKING AHEAD
Utah then wraps up the 2019 calendar year with its final non-conference game against San Diego State, who recently cracked the AP Top-25 Poll at No. 25 after starting the season 10-0, on Saturday, Dec. 21, inside STAPLES Center as part of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Classic presented by Citi. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (MT) on Pac-12 Network with Guy Haberman on the call alongside Don MacLean.

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