Utah Leaves No Doubt Against Jacksonville State With Smothering Win
Dec 8, 2022, 8:15 PM | Updated: 10:02 pm
Ben Carlson #1 of the Utah Utes drives to the basket agaisnt Courtney Ramey #0 of the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of their game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center December 1, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah basketball was back in action at the Huntsman Center playing host to Jacksonville State– a first-time meeting for the two programs. The Utes wasted very little time getting things going jumping out to a 19-0 lead to start the game. Utah would leave no doubt in this game, smothering Jacksonville State 99-58
Lazar Stefanovic led the team in points with 20 , Marco Anthony in rebounds with eight and Rollie Worster in assists with eight. The team as a whole was efficient shooting the ball going 56% in the field, 57 % on threes, and 78 % from the free throw line. The Runnin Utes were solid rebounding with 42 while limiting their turnovers to 10.
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📒 https://t.co/q6jUq5ZWNc#GoUtes | @pac12 pic.twitter.com/fVj8p6k8eX— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 8, 2022
The Utes resumed non-conference play after getting off to a great 2-0 start in Pac-12 play last week and it’s apparent their confidence is rising. Utah especially made a splash last Thursday knocking off No. 4 Arizona at the Huntsman before heading up to Pullman on Sunday to take on Washington State in an overtime thriller.
This is the first time the Utes have started conference play 2-0 since 2017 and currently have a 7-2 record for the year.
Breaking News For Utah Basketball Before The Game
Forward Gavin Baxter officially announced his medical retirement from the basketball team a few minutes before Utah would take the court against the Gamecocks. The move isn’t too big of a surprise, Baxter has battled injuries most of his collegiate career. The BYU transfer came to Utah for his final year of eligibility hoping for a fresh start, but ultimately cited an inability to get his body to work the way he needed it to as the end of his career.
Starting Lineups:
Jacksonville State:
- G – Demaree King
- G – Skyelar Potter
- G – Travis Roberts
- F – Juwan Perdue
- C – Maros Zeliznak
Utah:
- G – Marco Anthony
- G – Rollie Worster
- G – Gabe Madsen
- F – Ben Carlson
- C – Branden Carlson
First Half
- 17:42- Utah jumps out to a quick 10-0 run on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks forcing them to take a timeout. Branden Carlson leads Utah basketball with 6 points early on.
- 15:37- Utah basketball continues their domination at the media timeout on a 13-0 run over Jacksonville State. Everyone in the starting lineup except Marco Anthony has points to this point.
- 14:56- Official review stops time, basketball belongs to the Utes who are now up 16-0 on Jacksonville State. Lazar Stefanovic makes quick work out of the break sinking a three to make it 19-0.
Gabe Madsen gets called for the foul. It's Utah's second so far in this contest. Utah leads the Gamecocks 22-9. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
- 11:52- Jacksonville State get called for their second team foul ahead of the media timeout. The Utes have been overall very impressive to start this game with a 24-9 lead over the Gamecocks. Gabe Madsen leads the team in points with nine, Rollie Worster in rebounds with three and Marco Anthony with two assists.
Gamecocks starting to come alive a bit now. Utah still with a comfortable lead, but they are starting to put some points up. Stefanovic helps put some extra distance with a three however. #Utes up 27-14#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
Anthony did a good job coming down with the offensive rebound and gets fouled. Goes 1 of 2 at the line. #Utes up 28-16 on Jacksonville State. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
- 7:45- Gabe Madsen with the spin-move two puts Utah up 30-18 just before another timeout.
Anthony on cleanup duty extends Utah's lead 34-18 with just under six minutes in the half.#GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
- 4:06- Keba Keita with the statement slam dunk before another timeout. Utah still with a very solid lead over Jacksonville State 38-23.
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
Utah taking advantage of some sloppy play from Jacksonville State right now. Up 42-23 with just seconds left in the half. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
Halftime, Utah Up 45-23 On Jacksonville State
The Utes were impressive in the first half of play, taking advantage early and often of Jacksonville State mistakes to build a comfortable lead.
Utah sits at 49% shooting from the field, 47% from the three and 80% from the free throw line. The Gamecocks on the other hand have struggled to get their shots to fall only hitting 29% from the field, 50% from the three and 100% from the free throw line.
Gabe Madsen has once again been a point machine racking 13 early on in the game. Marco Anthony has been Utah’s best rebounder with five and Rollie Worster has also been solid on the assist front with five.
Second Half
- 17:50- Utah has already two threes- one from Gabe Madsen and the other from Rollie Worster to get the half started. Utah has extended their lead 53-25.
Another three, this time for Branden Carlson. Score sits at 56-25 for the #Utes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
- 15:28- At the break the Utes are sitting at 59-27 over Jacksonville State. The Utes are currently shooting 58% from the three with Madsen, Worster, BC and Stefanovic all sinking a three out of the half.
- 14:21- The Gamecocks take a timeout shortly after Stefanovic drained another three putting the Utes up 64-28. Jacksonville State has only added five points since the half.
- 12:40- Keita with another statement dunk. Utah absolutely running away with this game 70-32.
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 9, 2022
- 7:56- Utah fully in control of this game with an 82-40 lead over the Gamecocks. The Utes feel unstoppable shooting 58% from the field, 61% from the three and 86% from the free throw line in the second half.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
