Runnin' Utes Head to Tucson for Battle with #8/8 Arizona

Thursday, February 16

Tucson, AZ

8:00 PM

University of Utah

Arizona

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Runnin' Utes Head to Tucson for Battle with #8/8 Arizona

2/14/2023 5:49 PM | Men's Basketball

Utah Game Notes Pac-12 Statistics

The Utah men’s basketball team is set to face #8/8 Arizona this Thursday in a critical Pac-12 match-up.

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team hits the road this week for a pair of very important games, the first of five that have Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament implications, starting with #8/8 Arizona this Thursday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. (MT).

Roxy Bernstein will guide fans through the action alongside NBA legend Bill Walton as the Runnin' Utes look to pull off the in-season sweep of the Wildcats for the first time since the 1977-78 season – when both teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

CURTAINS LIFTED FOR FINAL HOMESTAND
The Utah Athletics Department announced on Monday, Feb. 13, that it will lift the curtains for the remaining two home games against No. 4/4 UCLA and USC. Fans can now purchase $5 general admission tickets for the upper bowl by visiting the Utah Ticket Office, via phone at 801-581-UTIX (8849) or online.

FEED U PANTRY
In addition to the upper bowl being opened for fans against #4/4 UCLA and USC, the Utah Athletics Department has teamed up with Feed U Pantry for its final homestand of the regular-season. Fans bringing two non-perishable items will get a FREE GA ticket.

To learn more about the Feed U Pantry, what it does for the University community and its mission, click here.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
vs. UCLA (Feb. 23)

Doubleheader cup giveaway
Bring 2 non-perishable food items for free GA ticket
Red Panda halftime performance

vs. USC (Feb. 25)

Doubleheader cup giveaway
Bring 2 non-perishable food items for free GA ticket
Ford Teddy Bear Toss at halftime
Pac-12 Tournament Package giveaway (includes tickets to ALL games and stay at MGM Resort)

STRUGGLES IN MCKALE
Opponents have had very little luck inside McKale Center and the Utes are no strangers to the hostile environment having gone winless in Tucson since the Pac-12 era. Utah hasn't picked up a win inside McKale Center since Dec. 6, 1986, (68-67) and is 8-22 overall since 2011-12 when playing the Wildcats in Tucson.

WRANGLING THE WILDCATS
With its win back on Dec. 1 against then-No. 4/4 Arizona, Utah will look to pick up its first in-season sweep of the Wildcats since joining the Pac-12. Since 2011-12, Utah is 0-7 in seasons where it has played two games (home-and-home) against Arizona with the 2018-19 campaign serving as the lone split against Arizona – the other six instances have been sweeps by the Wildcats.

The last time the Utes swept the Wildcats in-season was when the two programs were members of the Western Athletic Conference in the 1977-78 season.

MAJOR LAZAR
Utah sophomore Lazar Stefanovic has been critical for Utah with the absence of Gabe Madsen. The 6-7 guard is second on the team in scoring the last five games, averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. His 70 points during that five-game stretch trails only Branden Carlson – who just edged him out with 71 points.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah played one of its better games of the season against the Buffs at home last Saturday to close out its three-game homestand. Veterans Brandan Carlson and Marco Anthony paced the Utes with 17 points apiece while Ben Carlson added 10 points and eight rebounds. The Utes opened the second-half on a 12-4 run to lead 50-36 on a 3-pointer from Br. Carlson and never looked back as it held on to its double-digit lead the rest of the game en route to its 73-62 victory.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes close out their road swing in the Valley of the Sun on Saturday, Feb. 18, against the Arizona State Sun Devils as they look to record their first in-season sweep of ASU since 2014-15 – the only time they've accomplished that feat.

LOOKING AHEAD
Utah returns home to a little different Jon M. Huntsman Center with the athletics department announcing that it will be raising the curtains for the remaining two games for men's basketball against #4/4 UCLA (Feb. 23) and USC (Feb. 25). Fans can purchase $5 general admission tickets for the upper bowl by visiting the Utah Ticket Office, via phone at 801-581-UTIX (8849) or online.

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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