Early Deficit Dooms Utah Tech Against No. 14 Arizona
Nov 17, 2022, 9:15 PM
(Courtesy of Utah Tech Athletics)
(Courtesy of Utah Tech Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Tech men’s basketball team failed to overcome an early double-digit deficit and fell on the road to the No. 14 team in the country, the Arizona Wildcats.
The Wildcats hosted the Trailblazers at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, November 17.
Utah Tech fell to Arizona, 104-77.
Final from Tucson.
Noa Gonsalves leads five Blazers in double figures with 13 pts. Gooden/Staine/Leter 12 pts, Trey Edmonds with 11.
Trailblazers (1-3) wrap up the week at @VandalHoops on Saturday afternoon in Moscow.#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb pic.twitter.com/R0b5X46U9J— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) November 18, 2022
1:22 into the contest, Dancell Leter connected on a jumper that gave the Blazers an early 4-0 lead. 1:03 later and after a three-pointer and layup by the Wildcats, Utah Tech found itself down 5-4. The one-point deficit was the closest the Trailblazers would come to equaling the Wildcats.
The No. 14 team built its lead to double-digits in the first half before heading into the locker room at the break with a 49-21 advantage.
Halftime in Tucson.#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb pic.twitter.com/IxFmBPhC9j
— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) November 18, 2022
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After halftime, the Trailblazers attempted to get back into the contest. However, midway through the final 20 minutes of the game, Arizona put the game out of reach for good with the clock ticking away.
Utah Tech won the second half by a point, 56-55. The 28-point deficit from the first 20 minutes of action doomed the Blazers in the end.
Arizona finished the game shooting a blazing 63.6 percent from the field, including 54.5 percent on three-pointers. Utah Tech shot 36.1 percent overall and 31.3 percent from distance.
The Trailblazers were outdone in multiple categories on the final box scores, Arizona won the battle of rebounds, assists, and blocks. Utah Tech had impressive 13 steals on the night compared to only four by Arizona.
Five Trailblazers finished the night scoring in double figures. Noa Gonsalves led Utah Tech with 13 points, one rebound, two assists, and two steals. Trey Edmonds led Utah Tech’s second unit with 11 points. Frank Staine, Cameron Gooden, and Leter each added 12 points.
Your starting 5 for tonight's road game at No. 12/14 @ArizonaMBB#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb pic.twitter.com/P4ybtaXE34
— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) November 18, 2022
With the loss, the Trailblazers fell to a 1-3 record, including 0-3 on the road. Utah Tech’s next game is on the road against the Idaho Vandals on Saturday, November 19 at 3 p.m. (MDT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
