Colorado Torches Utah Basketball On Offensive End In Regular Season Finale
Mar 5, 2022, 9:33 PM | Updated: 9:39 pm
Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) meets Colorado Buffaloes forward Evan Battey (21) at the hoop during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah men’s basketball team couldn’t contain the offense of the Colorado Buffaloes in an 84-71 loss.
Branden Carlson and David Jenkins Jr. each scored 18 points to lead Utah basketball in their loss to Colorado. Lazar Stefanovic dropped 12 points.
Evan Battey dropped 27 points, while Jabari Walker had 22 points for Colorado.
Utah honored two seniors, including David Jenkins Jr. and Riley Battin before the game. Those two players and every Utah player have remaining eligibility beyond this season.
In honor of Senior Night, Utah head coach Craig Smith used a different starting lineup. He started Both Gach, Riley Battin and David Jenkins Jr., along with usual starters Marco Anthony and Branden Carlson. Rollie Worster, Gabe Madsen and Lazar Stefanovic came off the bench.
Forever part of the Utah family 🙌#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/qhnCcHYxsN
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 6, 2022
Utah Basketball Struggles in First Half Against Colorado
It was not a great start for Utah with Colorado jumping out to a 17-7 lead in the first five minutes. CU’s lead would nearly reach 20 points before the Utes climbed their way into striking distance, pulling within 11. The Buffaloes went on another late run in the first half and took a 50-29 lead at the break.
Evan Battey and Jabari Walker combined for 32 of Colorado’s 50 points with Battey leading the way with 19 points. David Jenkins Jr. had 14 points to lead the Utes.
Utah shot 40% from the floor and 4-of-12 from the three-point line. The Buffs made 56% from the floor and 9-of-13 from beyond the arc.
It was a tough start once again in the second half but Utah climbed back into the game, keeping the second half scoring basically even with five minutes to play.
Colorado went scoreless for the next two minutes and the Utes were on a 12-2 run over 3:34 and was within 15, 80-65 with 3:27 remaining.
Utah finished their regular season with an 11-19 overall record and 4-16 in Pac-12 play. They will head to the Pac-12 Tournament at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Runnin’ Utes will be the 11-seed and will face 6-seed Washington on Wednesday, March 9 at 9:30 p.m. MT.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
