Monday, November 6
Salt Lake City, UT
7:30 PM
University of Utah
1-0,0-0Pac-12
101
vs
66
Eastern Washington
0-1,0-0Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Wash. | 20 | 46 | 66 |
| Utah | 44 | 57 | 101 |
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Runnin' Utes Roll Past Eastern Washington in Season-Opener
11/6/2023 11:13 PM | Men's Basketball
The Utah men’s basketball team defeated Eastern Washington in its season-opener 101-66.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Runnin' Utes were running on Monday in their season-opener at home with the Utah men's basketball team dominating Eastern Washington 101-66 inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
With the win, the Utes are now 90-26 all-time in season-opening games and 81-13 overall when those season-openers also served as the home-opener. Meanwhile, head coach Craig Smith is now 7-3 all-time as a Division I head coach.
Utah started the season off in a flurry with Cole Bajema and Game Madsen knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a monstrous one-handed jam from Madsen to go up 8-2 early before things settled in. Up 12-10 heading out of the 11:48 media break, the Runnin' Utes kicked things into high gear and went on an 18-8 run to lead 30-18 at the 4:00 mark.
That lead would only grow for the Utes as they finished out the final 4:00 minutes of the frame with a 14-2 run that was aided by 15 first-half points from Rollie Worster.
Madsen led the way in the second half for Utah, scoring 13 of his game-high 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting – three of which came from downtown. Utah was also able to unload its bench on Monday in the season-opener with Jayden Teat making his collegiate debut alongside Jake Wahlin – who recorded the first point of his career with 2:14 left in the game to put the Utes up by 35 (98-63) before Brandon Haddock drained a corner three on the next position to push Utah past the century mark 101-66.
Bajema and Madsen were both shy of their career-highs. Bajema was just a basket away from surpassing his previous career-high of 18 before finishing with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Floor general Rollie Worster had a great night for the Utes, posting 15 points with 5 rebounds, 8 assists and a career-high 6 steals. Meanwhile, a trio of other Utes chipped in with 11 points including Branden Carlson, Keba Keita and Ben Carlson. Keita also recorded his first-career double-double on Monday pulling down 11 boards to go with his 11 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
Worster's 6 steals is a new career-high and the first Ute to have 5-plus steals since Rylan Jones against Idaho State on Dec. 8, 2020 … last time Utah had 10-plus steals in a game came against Stanford on Feb. 2, 2023 … the last time Utah had double-digit 3-pointers came at #8 Arizona on Feb. 16, 2023 … the last time Utah had six players in double-figures came against Washington in the Pac-12 Tournament back on March 10, 2021 … the Utes eclipsed the century mark for the first time since defeating BYU at home on Dec. 4, 2019, in thrilling overtime game … last time Utah shot 55-percent or better in a game was against Washington State this past season on Jan. 19, 2023 … the Utes were also +20 on the boards tonight, outrebounding Eastern Washington 48-28.
UP NEXT
Utah remains at home this week as it welcomes in UC Riverside into the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Friday, Nov. 10, as part of its Military Appreciation Night. All military personnel and their family can get $2 GA tickets with valid Military ID. In addition, the first 200 students at Door 4 prior to the game on the northeast corner of the Huntsman Center will get FREE food as part of the Friday Night Hype event for students on campus.
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.
With the win, the Utes are now 90-26 all-time in season-opening games and 81-13 overall when those season-openers also served as the home-opener. Meanwhile, head coach Craig Smith is now 7-3 all-time as a Division I head coach.
Utah started the season off in a flurry with Cole Bajema and Game Madsen knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a monstrous one-handed jam from Madsen to go up 8-2 early before things settled in. Up 12-10 heading out of the 11:48 media break, the Runnin' Utes kicked things into high gear and went on an 18-8 run to lead 30-18 at the 4:00 mark.
Okay sheesh @GabeMadsen53 ??
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 7, 2023
Great W tonight?? pic.twitter.com/N4OkRRTz7u
That lead would only grow for the Utes as they finished out the final 4:00 minutes of the frame with a 14-2 run that was aided by 15 first-half points from Rollie Worster.
?? - @Keba_Keita_13 leads to the ?? by Worster in transition??#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/vDHGhVR6yc
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 7, 2023
Madsen led the way in the second half for Utah, scoring 13 of his game-high 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting – three of which came from downtown. Utah was also able to unload its bench on Monday in the season-opener with Jayden Teat making his collegiate debut alongside Jake Wahlin – who recorded the first point of his career with 2:14 left in the game to put the Utes up by 35 (98-63) before Brandon Haddock drained a corner three on the next position to push Utah past the century mark 101-66.
To mark his first collegiate point, @WahlinJake from the stripe?? pic.twitter.com/SRhrxweg0P
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 7, 2023
Bajema and Madsen were both shy of their career-highs. Bajema was just a basket away from surpassing his previous career-high of 18 before finishing with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Floor general Rollie Worster had a great night for the Utes, posting 15 points with 5 rebounds, 8 assists and a career-high 6 steals. Meanwhile, a trio of other Utes chipped in with 11 points including Branden Carlson, Keba Keita and Ben Carlson. Keita also recorded his first-career double-double on Monday pulling down 11 boards to go with his 11 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
Worster's 6 steals is a new career-high and the first Ute to have 5-plus steals since Rylan Jones against Idaho State on Dec. 8, 2020 … last time Utah had 10-plus steals in a game came against Stanford on Feb. 2, 2023 … the last time Utah had double-digit 3-pointers came at #8 Arizona on Feb. 16, 2023 … the last time Utah had six players in double-figures came against Washington in the Pac-12 Tournament back on March 10, 2021 … the Utes eclipsed the century mark for the first time since defeating BYU at home on Dec. 4, 2019, in thrilling overtime game … last time Utah shot 55-percent or better in a game was against Washington State this past season on Jan. 19, 2023 … the Utes were also +20 on the boards tonight, outrebounding Eastern Washington 48-28.
UP NEXT
Utah remains at home this week as it welcomes in UC Riverside into the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Friday, Nov. 10, as part of its Military Appreciation Night. All military personnel and their family can get $2 GA tickets with valid Military ID. In addition, the first 200 students at Door 4 prior to the game on the northeast corner of the Huntsman Center will get FREE food as part of the Friday Night Hype event for students on campus.
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.
###
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
EWU
Utah
FG%
.379
.552
3FG%
.300
.440
FT%
.636
.684
RB
28
48
TO
15
16
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
No videos available.
