Carlson's Career-High Propels Utah Past Wake Forest in Charleston Classic Opener

Thursday, November 16

Charleston, SC

7:00 PM

University of Utah

3-0,0-0Pac-12

Wake Forest

1-2,0-0ACC

Team	1	2	F
Utah	31	46	77
Wake Forest	41	29	70

Box Score (PDF)Highlights

Photo Credit: Omar Torrest/Utah Athletics

Carlson's Career-High Propels Utah Past Wake Forest in Charleston Classic Opener

11/16/2023 11:02 PM | Men's Basketball

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CHARLESTON, S.C. – A 20-point second-half eruption from Branden Carlson led to a career-high 31 points to carry the Utah men's basketball team past the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the opening round of the Charleston Classic Thursday night inside TD Arena.

Per the Stat Train, Br. Carlson became just the fifth player in the Pac-12 Era to score at least 30 points and shoot 60-percent from the floor.

Wake Forest (1-2) drew first blood with two quick baskets before Lawson Lovering broke the seal for Utah with a two-handed jam from Rollie Worster. Cole Bajema got things going offensively for Utah, knocking down back-to-back baskets to start a 10-2 run for the 12-9 edge but a pair of threes from the Deacs put them back on top 15-14 at the 11:36 media break.

??????@lawson_lovering ?? @ballerbranden35 pic.twitter.com/EpkL4Cawe8
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 17, 2023

Br. Carlson then made his presence felt in the post to give the Runnin' Utes (3-0) an 18-15 edge out of the break. However, that lead was short-lived with Wake Forest going on an 8-0 run. The South Jordan native kept Utah within striking distance of the Deacs, scoring nine-straight points followed by a huge three from Lovering, but a 14-4 edge in points off turnovers for Wake Forest sent the Utes into the locker room down 41-31.

The Runnin' Utes came out of the locker room with a little more poise and played off its defense to outscore the Demon Deacons 17-11 early on in the second frame. The steady hand of Worster and Br. Carlson cut Utah's deficit back into the single-digits but it was the slip and one-handed jam from Ben Carlson that forced a Wake Forest timeout at the 15:02 mark to bring Utah within 49-46.

WATCH YA HEAD!! - @ben_carlson20 pic.twitter.com/Zp08GkU4Vt
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 17, 2023

Br. Carlson continued to anchor the Utes on both ends of the floor, swatting away four Wake Forest shots in the first eight minutes of the second-half while scoring nine of Utah's 21 points at the 11:48 media break down 54-52.

The game from that point on stayed at-best a two-possession contest, but it was second-chance effort and team basketball that helped the Runnin' Utes tie things up with 6:58 to go when Hunter Erickson found Lovering on the dive for the and-1 (60-60).

That's a NEW career-high for @ballerbranden35 and extends our lead to 75-70 with 17.3 seconds to go! pic.twitter.com/51n0gNUuAA
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 17, 2023

A huge three on the ensuing possession from Br. Carlson followed by a huge dunk forced yet another Wake Forest timeout – this time with Utah on top 65-60 with 5:33 left to play. The Demon Deacons would cut it down to a one-possession game two more times, but Utah answered each time to push it back to a two-possession lead before sealing the 77-70 victory.

Bajema and Lovering were the only other Utes in double-figures in the win 11 and 10 points apiece. Worster once again flirted with a triple-double, scoring 9 points with 5 rebounds and 9 assists.

BY THE NUMBERS
With the win, Utah is now 3-0 in its opening game at an MTE in the Craig Smith Era … Smith is also now 3-1 vs. ACC teams all-time as a head coach with wins over Boston College (2021), Georgia Tech (2022) and now Wake Forest (2023) … the Utes are now 19-25 all-time against ACC teams … Branden Carlson is the first Ute this season to knock down 10-plus field-goals in a game since Mike Saunders Jr. last season (2/23/23) … last time a Runnin' Ute had 30-plus points was Alfonso Plummer (35) against Oregon State in the opening round of the Pac-12 Tournament … Utah has now dished out 22 assists in back-to-back games … Utah outscored Wake Forest 46-29 in the second half.

UP NEXT
With the win over Wake Forest, the Runnin' Utes will now play No. 6/6 Houston on Friday, Nov. 17, at 2:30 p.m. (MT) / 4:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 with Jay Alter and Debbie Antonelli once again on the call.

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, X and Instagram.

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