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Saturday, December 7
Salt Lake City, UT
3:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Central Arkansas
Utes Close Out Homestand Hosting Central Arkansas
12/6/2019 10:10 AM | Men's Basketball
The Utah men’s basketball team wraps up the three-game homestand with Central Arkansas this Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. (MT).
OPENING TIP
The University of Utah men's basketball team looks to stay undefeated at home this Saturday, Dec. 7, as it welcomes Central Arkansas into the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a 3 p.m. (MT) tip on the Pac-12 Network. J.B. Long will have the call alongside Dan Belluomini. Saturday's game will also serve as the first meeting between the Runnin' Utes and Bears.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Central Arkansas is having a tough start to the season under sixth-year head coach Russ Pennell, sitting at just 1-7 on the year after playing in hostile territory at Koch Arena against Wichita State Thursday night.
Heading into Saturday's game against the Runnin' Utes, sophomore Eddy Kayouloud leads all players with 15.0 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. Junior Ryan Bergersen is second on the scoring column with a 14.1 points average and 4.8 rebounding average.
Big man Hayden Koval is the third a final player averaging in double-figures for the Bears, averaging 12.4 points per game to go with his team-high 6.7 rebounds per game and 32 blocks. The 7-0 junior is tied with Jaxon Baker for the team lead with 12 made 3-pointers and narrowly edged Bergersen (16) in the assists column with 18. Kayouloud, DeAndre Jones and Collin Cooper each have 14 dimes to their name.
The Bears are on a six-game skid heading into the game after falling at Wichita State 95-69 and lost their previous two games in overtime to California Baptist (104-98) and Prairie View A&M (78-72).
With three 7-footers on the team, Central Arkansas is averaging 6.8 blocks per game – mainly coming at the hands of Koval. Baker is second on the team with nine rejections.
PAC-12 PLAY MOVES TO 20-GAME SCHEDULE
The Pac-12 Conference announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the games that have been added as part of the league's transition to a 20-game schedule for the 2020-21 season. Of the 12 additional contest that were added in the months of November and December, 11 of the games will be played on dates with students on campus.
For Utah, it'll play host to Washington on Thursday, Dec. 3, followed by a road game at Arizona State on Sunday, Dec. 6. The added games and dates were selected based on the single-play opponents from the league's current annual rotation model, and availability based on prior non-conference schedules and academic calendars.
LAST TIME OUT
Down by as many as 16, the youthful Utes never backed down and fought 'til the bitter end and slow crept their way back into Wednesday night against rival BYU to claim a 102-95 victory in overtime inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Backed by career-highs in points from Timmy Allen, Rylan Jones and Mikael Jantunen saw the Utes outscore the Cougars 16-9 in the overtime period. Allen scored 14 of his career-high 27 in the second half while Jones rattled in a new season-high 25 points – including eight in overtime – but nothing was more important than his 3-pointer that tied the game up at 86-86 to send the game into overtime. Jantunen was effective for Utah down in the post, pouring in 18 points of his own with six rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting to go with a perfect 8-for-8 night at the line. Sophomore Riley Battin also add 14 points of his own, nearly going perfect from the field knocking down 5-of-6 shots against BYU – including two critical steals down the stretch.
Listen to "Utah freshman guard Rylan Jones talks about his performance against BYU" on Spreaker.
UP NEXT
The Utes now get ready to play three-straight neutral site games to wrap up their non-conference schedule. First up for Utah will be Weber State next Saturday, Dec. 14, just down the road at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Kate Scott will have the call on the Pac-12 Network for the 2 p.m. (MT) tip-off while Dan Belluomini serves as the analyst in the first of two games of the Beehive Classic.
LOOKING AHEAD
After taking on Weber State, the Runnin' Utes head to Sin City for a 9 p.m. (MT) tip on Dec. 18 match-up against Kentucky inside T-Mobile Arena on ESPN2. Three days later the Utes take on San Diego State inside STAPLES Center on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4:30 p.m. (MT). Guy Haberman will have the call on Pac-12 Network for that game while Don MacLean serves at the analyst.
The University of Utah men's basketball team looks to stay undefeated at home this Saturday, Dec. 7, as it welcomes Central Arkansas into the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a 3 p.m. (MT) tip on the Pac-12 Network. J.B. Long will have the call alongside Dan Belluomini. Saturday's game will also serve as the first meeting between the Runnin' Utes and Bears.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Central Arkansas is having a tough start to the season under sixth-year head coach Russ Pennell, sitting at just 1-7 on the year after playing in hostile territory at Koch Arena against Wichita State Thursday night.
Heading into Saturday's game against the Runnin' Utes, sophomore Eddy Kayouloud leads all players with 15.0 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. Junior Ryan Bergersen is second on the scoring column with a 14.1 points average and 4.8 rebounding average.
Big man Hayden Koval is the third a final player averaging in double-figures for the Bears, averaging 12.4 points per game to go with his team-high 6.7 rebounds per game and 32 blocks. The 7-0 junior is tied with Jaxon Baker for the team lead with 12 made 3-pointers and narrowly edged Bergersen (16) in the assists column with 18. Kayouloud, DeAndre Jones and Collin Cooper each have 14 dimes to their name.
The Bears are on a six-game skid heading into the game after falling at Wichita State 95-69 and lost their previous two games in overtime to California Baptist (104-98) and Prairie View A&M (78-72).
With three 7-footers on the team, Central Arkansas is averaging 6.8 blocks per game – mainly coming at the hands of Koval. Baker is second on the team with nine rejections.
PAC-12 PLAY MOVES TO 20-GAME SCHEDULE
The Pac-12 Conference announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the games that have been added as part of the league's transition to a 20-game schedule for the 2020-21 season. Of the 12 additional contest that were added in the months of November and December, 11 of the games will be played on dates with students on campus.
For Utah, it'll play host to Washington on Thursday, Dec. 3, followed by a road game at Arizona State on Sunday, Dec. 6. The added games and dates were selected based on the single-play opponents from the league's current annual rotation model, and availability based on prior non-conference schedules and academic calendars.
LAST TIME OUT
Down by as many as 16, the youthful Utes never backed down and fought 'til the bitter end and slow crept their way back into Wednesday night against rival BYU to claim a 102-95 victory in overtime inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Backed by career-highs in points from Timmy Allen, Rylan Jones and Mikael Jantunen saw the Utes outscore the Cougars 16-9 in the overtime period. Allen scored 14 of his career-high 27 in the second half while Jones rattled in a new season-high 25 points – including eight in overtime – but nothing was more important than his 3-pointer that tied the game up at 86-86 to send the game into overtime. Jantunen was effective for Utah down in the post, pouring in 18 points of his own with six rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting to go with a perfect 8-for-8 night at the line. Sophomore Riley Battin also add 14 points of his own, nearly going perfect from the field knocking down 5-of-6 shots against BYU – including two critical steals down the stretch.
As a team, the Utes pounded the paint to the tune of 62 points to BYU's 38 while owning a 31-7 edge in fast break points Wednesday night. Utah was also 24-of-31 from the free throw line, making up for a tough night beyond the arc (4-of-18) compared to Cougars – who hit 12-of-24.??Visual Recap: Utah 102, BYU 95. #GoUtes???? pic.twitter.com/lhQKuJ7JbW
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) December 5, 2019
Listen to "Utah freshman guard Rylan Jones talks about his performance against BYU" on Spreaker.
UP NEXT
The Utes now get ready to play three-straight neutral site games to wrap up their non-conference schedule. First up for Utah will be Weber State next Saturday, Dec. 14, just down the road at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Kate Scott will have the call on the Pac-12 Network for the 2 p.m. (MT) tip-off while Dan Belluomini serves as the analyst in the first of two games of the Beehive Classic.
LOOKING AHEAD
After taking on Weber State, the Runnin' Utes head to Sin City for a 9 p.m. (MT) tip on Dec. 18 match-up against Kentucky inside T-Mobile Arena on ESPN2. Three days later the Utes take on San Diego State inside STAPLES Center on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4:30 p.m. (MT). Guy Haberman will have the call on Pac-12 Network for that game while Don MacLean serves at the analyst.
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