Barefield Leads Utes To Season Opening Win Over Maine
Nov 8, 2018, 11:18 PM | Updated: Nov 9, 2018, 10:31 am
Utah Utes guard Sedrick Barefield has his shot blocked but pulls in the ball and hits on his second try during NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. He is defended by Maine Black Bears forward Andrew Fleming, right and Maine Black Bears forward Vincent Eze. (Ravell Call/Deseret News)
(Ravell Call/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah basketball team knocked off Maine 75-61 in their regular season opener at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Sedrick Barefield led the Utes with 18 points and 8 assists, Donnie Tillman added 15 points and 5 rebounds.
Utah shot 49 percent from the field and made just 8 of their three-point attempts.
Maine Outscored Utes In The Second Half
For the second straight game, Utah was outscored by their opponent in the second half. They were outscored 47-39 by the College of Idaho in their exhibition game. Maine topped the Utes in the second half, 33-30.
“We have to get better. Bottom line is we have a long way to go,” said Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak after the game.
The Utes jumped out to a 30-15 lead in the first half before the Black Bears trimmed the lead to nine points with 3:58 left in the game.
Newcomers
Graduate transfer Novak Topalovic scored 9 points to go with 10 rebounds in his first regular season game with Utah.
Freshman Timmy Allen had six points, six rebounds and six assists.
Riley Battin, Both Gach and Vante Hendrix combined for 12 points in their first game in a Utes uniform.
Next Up
Utah will play their first road game of the season as they head to Minnesota. The game will be played on Monday at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
