SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team closes out the weekend with the Oregon Ducks this Saturday, Jan. 7, at 5 p.m. (MT) for its DARK MODE game.
Roxy Bernstein and Don MacLean will have the call on Pac-12 Networks as the Runnin' Utes look to pick up just their third win over the Ducks since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12.
STARTING 5 TIDBITS
- First 5-0 start in Pac-12 play since joining the league in 2011-12 and first since 2004-05 as a member of the Mountain West
- Branden Carlson (17.0), Lazar Stefanovic (12.4), Marco Anthony (10.4) and Gabe Madsen (10.0) are all averaging double-digits in Pac-12 play
- Utes have only shot under .400 as a team twice this season against Sam Houston (.327) and at Cal (.396)
- Stefanovic has now reached double-figures in seven of his last eight games – including a pair of 20-point games
- Carlson and Madsen have reached double-digit points in nine of their last 10 games
HANDLE ON THE 33RD STATE
With its win over Oregon State, the Utes will look to secure just its third sweep of the Oregon schools in program history and just the second time they have done so at home. Utah previously swept the Oregon schools at home in 2012-12 followed by a sweep on the road in 2017-18.
SERIES BREAKDOWN VS. OREGON SCHOOLS
HOME
Utah Sweeps Oregon Schools: 1
Oregon School Sweeps Utah: 3
Series Split: 5 |
AWAY
Utah Sweeps Oregon Schools: 1
Oregon School Sweeps Utah: 7
Series Split: 1 |
SWEEPING VICTORY
Since joining the Pac-12, Utah has only recorded back-to-back weekend sweeps three times.
2017-18
- Stanford/Cal (H) & Washington/Washington State (A)
2015-16
- Washington State/Washington (A) & Cal/Stanford (H)
- Washington/Washington State (H) & UCLA/USC (A) & Arizona State/#9 Arizona (H)
*Utah closed out with Colorado after defeating #9 Arizona to sweep the Colorado series that season
LAST TIME OUT
The Utah offense took a little longer than usual to get its engine going, but it found the right pace late in the second half to reel off a 79-60 victory over Oregon State this past Thursday. Utah led wire-to-wire for a total of 39:45 minutes. The Utes had four players reach double-figures while
Branden Carlson and
Marco Anthony each recorded a double-double. Both Carlson and Anthony pulled down new season-highs in rebounding while Carlson tied his career-high in points with 27.
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes put their 3-0 road record in Pac-12 play to the test next week as it travels to Southern California for the LA schools. Utah will get tested right off the bat as it battles #10/8 UCLA inside historic Pauley Pavilion on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 9 p.m. (MT) before navigating LA traffic to square off against the Trojans of USC on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 8:30 p.m. (MT). Both games are set to air of Pac-12 Networks.
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah returns home from its trip to Los Angeles to play host to the Washington schools. The Utes will first take the court versus Washington State on Thursday, Jan. 19) before welcoming in the Huskies of Washington on Saturday, Jan. 21, for its RED OUT and Alumni Night.
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at
www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
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