Utah Tech Stuns Stephen F. Austin In First Round Of WAC Tournament

LAS VEGAS – The Utah Tech Trailblazers men’s basketball team matched up against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the 1st Round of the WAC basketball tournament on Tuesday.

The Trailblazers last game was a 10-point loss to Grand Canyon University in their last game of the regular season.

The winner of the first-round matchup goes on to face the 20-11 Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the next round of the tournament.

First Half

Frank Staine opened up scoring for the Trailblazers with a layup off an assist from Cameron Gooden.

Cameron Gooden scored 5 straight points in a 7-0 run by Utah Tech.

CAM GOODEN SLAMMMMM!! 💥💥#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/GzdUSHzr8M

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

UTU played excellent defense in the opening half. The Lumberjacks had 3 turnovers and only made four of their first 14 shots.

The Trailblazers did much of their work inside the arc early on. They went on an 8-0 run to open a double-digit lead.

Halfway through the first half, Utah Tech led by ten, 19-9.

NOA FOR THREEEEEE!! 💰💰💰#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/4bkZEbcR6B

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Stephen F. Austin went into a press and scored two quick baskets off of turnovers.

The Lumberjacks continued to fight back thanks to a 5-minute long scoring drought by the Trailblazers.

Staine stopped the bleeding for Utah Tech with a catch-and-shoot three.

KNOCK DOWN‼️ FRANK hits for 3️⃣!!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/7h4IApOQiL

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

With four minutes left before the half, the game was tied at 22.

Both teams struggled to shoot from deep in the first half. They combined for a less-than-ideal / from behind the arc.

Utah Tech led by three at the half, 31-28.

⬆️ by 3️⃣ going into the break!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/15UnuNodkv

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Second Half

Both teams struggled to score out of the halftime break.

After over two minutes without a basket, the Lumberjacks broke the seal with an alley-oop dunk.

💪brester getting UP for the dunk!#AxeEm x #RaiseTheAxe x #PressU pic.twitter.com/2K5uxibqwI

— SFA Men’s Basketball (@SFA_MBB) March 8, 2023

Gooden came down on the other end and made a tough layup.

Jacob Nicolds scored 4 straight points for the Trailblazers.

come for the jacob 3️⃣, stay for the bench dance 🕺#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/DyfxJU5c0B

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Gooden continued to carry the Trailblazer offense.

CAM is a bucket! 💪💪#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/Ffqb8YyH8m

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

With five minutes left in regulation, UTU held a one-point lead, 55-54.

BIG offensive rebound turns into a BIG 3️⃣ by CAM GOODEN! 🔥🔥#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/EpXu4AsEAY

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

The Lumberjacks hit a big three to tie the game at 60 with a minute left.

Staine got fouled and hit both free throws to take a 2-point lead.

After Sadaidriene Hall tied the game, Staine missed the last shot of regulation.

WE ARE HEADING TO OVERTIME‼️#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/KfKypKwmt1

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Overtime

Dancell Leter scored five points in the first two minutes of overtime.

STEAL ➡️ DUNK ➡️ AND 1️⃣!!! What a sequence by DANCELL!! #UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/7stQFFREhL

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Stephen F. Austin’s Latrell Jossell responded with a three to tie the game at 67.

The floodgates opened in overtime. Staine hit a three to take a three-point lead but the Lumberjacks responded with a trip to the free throw line.

With 90 seconds left in OT, the game was tied at 71.

Isaiah Pope hit a tough shot plus a foul with a minute left. On the next possession, he threw a perfect bounce pass to open a 5-point lead for the Trailblazers.

BOOOOOM!! ISAIAH ➡️ FRANK for the HUGE BUCKET!! 😱🔥#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/3eWfAcOvml

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Utah Tech pulled out the win in their first-ever Division-1 postseason game, 80-76.

🚨 UPSET ALERT 🚨

TRAILBLAZERS WIN & move on to the SECOND ROUND!!!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WACVegas pic.twitter.com/OMf169nZsS

— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) March 8, 2023

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.

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