Men's Basketball Fends Off Wolverines for Win

Tuesday, December 15

Salt Lake City, UT

5:00 PM

University of Utah

3-1,1-0Pac-12

Utah Valley

2-4,0-0WAC

Utah Valley

Utah

Carlson_Branden_Allen_Timmy_MBB_UVU_EJ20_1

12/15/2020 8:39 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Utah men’s basketball team fended off a hungry Utah Valley team at home for the 75-67 win.

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team's defense picked up when it needed to most and held a hungry Utah Valley team scoreless in the final 3:21 minutes to action to hang on to a 75-67 victory inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center Tuesday night.

The Utah defense clamped down on the visiting Wolverines and saw UVU go 0-for-3 from the field, two of which came from long range, to go with three turnovers in those final moments. That defensive stretch also saw the Utes go on a 7-0 run to wrap up the game behind a 5-of-6 effort from the free-throw line.

Ahead 41-35 heading into the second half, Utah (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) expanded its lead to as much as 54-39 with 13:48 remaining in the game on a nice step-back from senior Alfonso Plummer. Utah Valley (2-4) didn't back down and got as close as 68-67 of the Utes after Trey Woodbury found a lane to the hoop with 3:21 on the clock before Utah's defense took over.

???? by @timmybuckets35 on the breakaway from @ballerbranden35!

?? https://t.co/BKtjkbllso #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/93ncm8GonC
— Utah Basketball?? (w/ ??) (@UtahMBB) December 16, 2020

UVU's roaring comeback was backed by Evan Cole, who had 18 of his career-high 31 points in the second-half. However, Utah countered with critical rebounds and defensive stops down the stretch from Timmy Allen, who finished with a season-high 19 points and six rebounds to go with a pair of assists and steals. Rylan Jones also played a big role down the stretch, scoring nine of his 12 points in the second-half – including a pair of free throws and steal.

Great hustle from Jones to get this steal after knocking down both FTs. Timeout Utes.

?? https://t.co/BKtjkbllso #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/nSrpwai5PZ
— Utah Basketball?? (w/ ??) (@UtahMBB) December 16, 2020

Branden Carlson finished with 14 points and sealed the game away when he blocked Fardaws Aimaq at the rim with 10 seconds left to go with a 74-67 lead. The sophomore big man added four blocks on 6-of-10 shooting as well. Plummer also chipped in with 12 points Tuesday night as the fourth Ute in double-figures.

HUGE block from @ballerbranden35 to seal the win!

?? https://t.co/BKtjkbllso #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/jrVsu2T0jD
— Utah Basketball?? (w/ ??) (@UtahMBB) December 16, 2020

NOTEABLES
Utah converted 20 UVU turnovers for a 26-4 edge in points off turnovers while also turning its six offensive rebounds into 11 points … for the third-straight game, the Utes have been outrebounded this time 34-29 … fortunately, the Utes have gone 2-1 despite the fact … the 19 points is the most for Timmy Allen since scoring 26 in an overtime loss at Cal (Feb. 29) last season … tonight was the third-straight game Utah committed less than 10 turnovers in three-straight games, the last time that happened was during the 2016-17 season … freshman Ian Martinez picked up his first-career basket in a Ute uniform Tuesday night at the 8:08 mark in the second-half.

UP NEXT
Utah remains at home in the friendly confines of the Jon M. Huntsman Center and welcomes in Idaho for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday, Dec. 18, as part of a double-header with women's basketball, who will tip-off against Pac-12 foe Arizona State at 3 p.m. Both games will air on Pac-12 Networks. Krista Blunk will have the call while former Utah assistant coach Joe Cravens serves as the analyst.

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