Runnin' Utes Cruise Past Cal, Honor Former Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill

Saturday, February 8

Salt Lake City, UT

6:00 PM

University of Utah

14-9,5-6Pac-12

California

10-13,4-6Pac-12

California

Utah

Runnin' Utes Cruise Past Cal, Honor Former Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill

2/8/2020 9:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Postgame Interview Dr. Hill Ceremony

The Runnin’ Utes get the 60-45 win over Cal on a night where they honored former AD Dr. Chris Hill for his 31 years of service.

SALT LAKE CITY – It was a picture perfect day for the University of Utah Saturday as the men's basketball team cruised past California, 60-45, on a night where it forever immortalized former Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill with a banner in the rafters at halftime.

The win gave Utah its fifth-straight sweep over the Bay Area schools when playing at home behind a solid offensive night from sophomore Timmy Allen – who had 21 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

Utah (14-9, 5-6 Pac-12) once again had a great start to the game, taking an early 17-6 lead over the visiting Golden Bears after Rylan Jones drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing out of the timeout by Cal with 12:13 left to go. California answered Utah's 8-0 run with one of its own and cut the lead down to 17-14.

From there, both teams exchanged a couple short runs until Jaxon Brenchley made it 32-22 in favor of the Utes after knocking down back-to-back threes before a last-second lay-up from Lahat Thioune gave Utah a 34-22 lead heading into the break.

Corner Three for @JBrench23 ??????

??@Pac12Network #GoUtes???? pic.twitter.com/mw3KzyprDb
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) February 9, 2020

Allen got Utes going in the first half when Mikael Jantunen got in the passing lanes and intercepted a Lars Thiemann pass before connecting with a streaking Allen down the court for a jam. Jantunen followed with back-to-back baskets of his own and gave the Runnin' Utes a 40-31 advantage – forcing Cal (10-13, 4-6 Pac-12) to call its third timeout of the game.

Going ??, on a Saturday!
CC: @timmybuckets35 ????

??@Pac12Network #GoUtes???? pic.twitter.com/whkQmhHx3A
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) February 9, 2020

From there, it was all Allen as the Mesa, Ariz., native scored 14 of the final 20 points for Utah – including a 3-pointer that gave the Red and White its largest lead of the game 58-39.

The 21 points was Allen's ninth time this season with 20-plus points and the 15th time he's led the team in scoring. Alfonso Plummer continues to find the bottom of the basket with extended minutes and had eight points on 4-of-7 shooting with a couple steals while Riley Battin added seven points and eight rebounds.

Forever a part of the @utahathletics Family.

Tonight we honored Dr. Hill with a banner and commemorated the 31 years he served as our Director of Athletics.

Thank you, Dr. Hill! pic.twitter.com/Ng6NhKANCU
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) February 9, 2020

BY THE NUMBERS
The win makes it four-straight for Utah at home and now 10-1 at home this season … the Utes now move to 17-15 with the win over Cal, 10-5 when playing at home and 6-4 when playing in the Jon M. Huntsman Center … Utah turned 17 Cal turnovers into a 22-7 edge in points off turnovers … the nine turnovers was the first time Utah has committed single-digit turnovers in a game since turning it over seven times vs. Oregon (1/4) at home … with 10 steals, it is just the second time this season the Utes have had back-to-back games with double-digit steals.

QUOTEABLE
Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak...
Coach K's Opening Statement…
"We had a good week of practice and I thought we had a good game plan for both of the Bay Area schools and I think we've made some good strides in our pick-and-roll coverage. Our bigs did a really good job and I thought our guards were solid too. Both games were high volume pick-and-roll teams in Stanford and Cal and about 50% of their production from this Cal team so I was really pleased and we have very few breakdowns. There were 21 deflections again in the game with some active hands and defensively to hold them to 32% from the field so it's what we focused on this week. We did a lot of shell drills and a lot of pick-and-roll defense and it was nice that it carried over."

Coach K on Timmy struggling lately and shooting much better tonight…
"I think some of it is self-inflicted. You know, putting a lot of heat on trying to score and we've got a lot of numbers internally that we've run on it and he's going to garner double-teams and there's a lot of size at the rim. It's not easy around the rim and I think you've seen some glimpses where he gets under control and draws those people. I was watching a college game the other night and some college commentator said 'If you have the ability to draw multiple people as a player, then you have the responsibility of making sure to move the ball.' It's still a work in progress for us but he is a guy who can generate double-teams...the type of shots, I think are as important. When you look at some of the field goal percentages when you are trying to force shots over big bodies it's a low percentage shot and those numbers prove that. We've got to continue to work on it but it's a fine line too because he's super capable of getting us some buckets as you witnessed."

Sophomore Forward #1 Timmy Allen
On getting doubled in Pac-12 Play...
"Everyone plays it different, it's usually a double, or someone's coming on the bounce. I just try to make the best play. Coach preaches make the best play that's available, and that's what I try to do."

On encouraging his teammates...
"I do it because I love my teammates. I know the hardships of a freshman. It was up and down and up and down last year, and it's not easy. Sometimes you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. I just do it for the love of the game and because I love my teammates."

UP NEXT
Utah hits the road once more, this timing to the Pacific Northwest where it'll take on Oregon State (Feb. 13) and Oregon (Feb. 16). Tip-off between the Utes and Beavers is slated for 7 p.m. (MT) on Pac-12 Network while the 7 p.m. game inside Matthew Knight Arena against the Ducks will are on FS1 at 7 p.m.

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