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Sunday, December 31
Salt Lake City, UT
4:00 PM
University of Utah
11-2,2-0Pac-12
95
vs
90
Washington
8-5,0-2Pac-12
1
2
F
Washington
46
44
90
Utah
35
60
95
Team Stats
UW
Utah
FG%
.397
.529
3FG%
.348
.458
FT%
.800
.455
RB
41
48
TO
5
12
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
34
FGM
14
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Bryan Byerly/Utah Athletics
Carlson's Career-High Leads Second-Half Surge Past Washington to Close Out 2023
12/31/2023 7:36 PM | Men's Basketball
A career-high 34 points and 7 assists with 7 rebounds from Branden Carlson led to Utah’s victory over Washington, 95-90.
SALT LAKE CITY – A tremendous second-half effort from Branden Carlson saw the #RV/RV Utah men's basketball team come back from a 15-point to defeat Washington 95-90 Sunday evening inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center behind a career-high 34 points from Carlson.
The eight-game winning-streak for Utah is now the second-most since 2011-12 and trails just the 2015-16 campaign where it won nine-straight games that bled into the Pac-12 Tournament. The eight-game win-streak is also tied with Kansas and Georgia for the eighth-longest currently in the NCAA thru games on Dec. 31.
Utah (11-2, 2-0) opened the game well, taking an early 18-7 lead over Washington from an even attack from six different players and went into the midway point (10:30) ahead 20-12. However, that was when things went south for the Utes as missed shots coupled with a barrage of whistles saw Washington mount a 26-7 run by the time the 3:31 media break hit to take the 39-27 lead over Utah.
The Huskies (8-5, 0-2 Pac-12) continued their offensive bombardment to go up 44-29 with a minute to go before back-to-back 3-pointers from Cole Bajema and Rollie Worster sent Utah sent the Utes into the locker room down 46-35 – the first time they've trailed at the half since the Charleston Classic.
As tough as it was for the Utes in the latter portion of the first half, the second-half was just as conversely good for Utah as it shots started to rain down. Bajema opened the frame with a three followed by three-straight from Carlson before Worster tacked on six-straight points to get within 58-50 with 14:24 on the clock.
Utah continued its push and slowly cut into the UW lead and would eventually regain the lead for the first time since the first-half after a 13-2 run was capped off heading into the 9:31 media break on top 67-64. The Runnin' Utes would not relinquish that lead the rest of the way behind a Herculean effort from Carlson – who would score 19 of Utah's final 28 points to seal the 95-90 victory.
Worster had another stat stuffing night, scoring 14 points with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while Gabe Madsen picked up his first-career double-double with 11 points on 11 rebounds – which was also a new career-high. Bajema finished up with 11 points of his own while Deivon Smith posted 9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Keita added 9 points of his own with 6 rebounds with Ben Carlson rounding the scoring list for Utah with 7 critical points down the stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah picks up its 20th victory all-time against Washington and moves to 15-9 all-time in Pac-12 play against the Huskies … Utah has now swept the Washington schools for the sixth time since joining the league (2014, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24) … the win marks the sixth time since joining the Pac-12 that Utah has gone undefeated in the month of December (2013-14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24) … last time Utah overcame a 15-plus point deficit was on the road against Colorado back on Jan. 30 – when it overcame a 65-46 deficit to win 77-74 … also the first time Utah has won multiple games in the same season when trailing by at least 10 at halftime since 1996-97.
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes hit the road for the first time in Pac-12 play as they square off against Arizona State on Thursday, Jan. 4, inside Deseret Financial Arena. Dave Feldman and Corey Williams will have the call between Utah and Arizona State on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. (MT) for a little #Pac12AfterDark action.
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.
The eight-game winning-streak for Utah is now the second-most since 2011-12 and trails just the 2015-16 campaign where it won nine-straight games that bled into the Pac-12 Tournament. The eight-game win-streak is also tied with Kansas and Georgia for the eighth-longest currently in the NCAA thru games on Dec. 31.
Utah (11-2, 2-0) opened the game well, taking an early 18-7 lead over Washington from an even attack from six different players and went into the midway point (10:30) ahead 20-12. However, that was when things went south for the Utes as missed shots coupled with a barrage of whistles saw Washington mount a 26-7 run by the time the 3:31 media break hit to take the 39-27 lead over Utah.
The Huskies (8-5, 0-2 Pac-12) continued their offensive bombardment to go up 44-29 with a minute to go before back-to-back 3-pointers from Cole Bajema and Rollie Worster sent Utah sent the Utes into the locker room down 46-35 – the first time they've trailed at the half since the Charleston Classic.
As tough as it was for the Utes in the latter portion of the first half, the second-half was just as conversely good for Utah as it shots started to rain down. Bajema opened the frame with a three followed by three-straight from Carlson before Worster tacked on six-straight points to get within 58-50 with 14:24 on the clock.
Utah continued its push and slowly cut into the UW lead and would eventually regain the lead for the first time since the first-half after a 13-2 run was capped off heading into the 9:31 media break on top 67-64. The Runnin' Utes would not relinquish that lead the rest of the way behind a Herculean effort from Carlson – who would score 19 of Utah's final 28 points to seal the 95-90 victory.
Worster had another stat stuffing night, scoring 14 points with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while Gabe Madsen picked up his first-career double-double with 11 points on 11 rebounds – which was also a new career-high. Bajema finished up with 11 points of his own while Deivon Smith posted 9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Keita added 9 points of his own with 6 rebounds with Ben Carlson rounding the scoring list for Utah with 7 critical points down the stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah picks up its 20th victory all-time against Washington and moves to 15-9 all-time in Pac-12 play against the Huskies … Utah has now swept the Washington schools for the sixth time since joining the league (2014, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24) … the win marks the sixth time since joining the Pac-12 that Utah has gone undefeated in the month of December (2013-14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24) … last time Utah overcame a 15-plus point deficit was on the road against Colorado back on Jan. 30 – when it overcame a 65-46 deficit to win 77-74 … also the first time Utah has won multiple games in the same season when trailing by at least 10 at halftime since 1996-97.
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes hit the road for the first time in Pac-12 play as they square off against Arizona State on Thursday, Jan. 4, inside Deseret Financial Arena. Dave Feldman and Corey Williams will have the call between Utah and Arizona State on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. (MT) for a little #Pac12AfterDark action.
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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