Runnin' Utes Can't Contain Hot-Shooting Bruins

Thursday, February 25

Salt Lake City, UT

6:00 PM

University of Utah

9-11,6-10Pac-12

UCLA

17-5,13-3Pac-12

Team	1	2	F
UCLA	35	41	76
Utah	27	34	61

Photo by: Kory Mortensen

2/25/2021 8:55 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Utah men’s basketball ran into a hot-shooting UCLA team in the second half Thursday evening.

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team battled UCLA in the first half, but the Bruins caught fire from the field in the second half of action and handed the Runnin' Utes the 76-61 loss.

Utah (9-11, 6-10 Pac-12) took an early lead against UCLA on six quick points from Branden Carlson and an early three from Alfonso Plummer as the Utes took an 11-8 lead with 14:08 on the clock. A quick 7-0 spurt from the Bruins out of the Utah timeout saw them take their first lead of the game.

.@rylanjones15 to @ballerbranden35...a thing of beauty ??

?? Pac-12 Network
?? https://t.co/GbiIbbW6qf pic.twitter.com/mygbxC4S8h
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) February 26, 2021

Ian Martinez drained a three and then came up with a huge block on the defensive end before Plummer tied things up at 22-22 with a long fade away. After a UCLA timeout with 6:30 left in the half, the Bruins used a 13-5 run to take a 35-27 lead into the locker room.

The Utes had to call a timeout at the 15:47 mark in the second half with UCLA (17-5, 13-3 Pac-12) starting the half on a 16-5 run. The Bruins continued their offensive attack and at one point, hit 11-of-13 from the floor in the second frame to lead 60-39 heading into the 10:31 media timeout.

Utah slowly crept back in on 3-pointers from Martinez and Pelle Larsson to force a UCLA timeout with 4:27 left go and the 68-54 lead over the Utes. However, UCLA's torrid second half continued as it handed the Utes the 76-61 loss.

Jones finds Martinez for his 10th point of the game.

?? Pac-12 Network
?? https://t.co/GbiIbbW6qf pic.twitter.com/b1PniqimFU
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) February 26, 2021

Carlson led a trio of double-digit scorers with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting with six rebounds and four blocks while Riley Battin and Martinez each chipped in with 10 points. Larsson was just short of hitting the double-figure mark, scoring nine points on 3-of-4 from 3-point range with five rebounds and three assists. Rylan jones only took one shot attempt in his return after missing the last four games, but dished out seven assists in 17 minutes of action.

NOTABLES
Utah did not have a free-throw attempt while UCLA only had four, making it the first time in program history the Utes have not had a free-throw attempt in a game … the 19 assists by Utah is just the fifth time it's dished out 19 or more in a single-game this season

UP NEXT
Utah remains at home as it continues the four-game homestand to wrap up the year when it hosts #19/8 USC this Saturday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. Dave Pasch will have the call while Bill Walton serves as the analyst.

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