Runnin’ Utes Hang Tough Against TCU, Come Up Short Of Victory
Dec 21, 2022, 9:11 PM
Chuck OBannon Jr. #5 of the TCU Horned Frogs shoots a three-point shot over Gabe Madsen #55 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at the Vivint Arena December 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY- The Runnin’ Utes came up very short against rival BYU last weekend in Provo and needed to show that is not the team they are. Head coach Craig Smith talked earlier in the week about how the team took ownership of the poor performance and worked hard to correct their miscues before hosting No. 20 TCU at Vivint Arena. The end result was a hard-fought loss for the Runnin’ Utes, 75- 71, to the Horned Frogs.
The loss marks the Utes’ fourth of the young 2022-2023 basketball season.
The final from Vivint Arena. @UtahMBB fought hard but came up short against TCU. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/AE3HQUOUXi
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2022
The First Half For The Runnin’ Utes
The Horned Frogs got off to quick start going up 6-0 within minutes of tipoff, but the Utes didn’t flinch.
Well-timed block from Madsen followed by the rebound from BC was nice. Utah now trail TCU by one-point, 7-6 over TCU. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 22, 2022
Utah deployed several great defensive stops that allowed them to claw back into the game and eventually take the lead. However, as quickly as they got the lead the seemed to let it slip. The Utes did a good job of not letting the game get away from them before halftime and left to the locker room down just six points.
It’s halftime at the Viv. No. 20 TCU has a six point lead over the #Utes, 35-29.
Utah shooting 52% from the field but have 11 turnovers and are being out rebounded by TCU 18-13. pic.twitter.com/9gNBpH7YiE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2022
Second Half For The Utes
In the second half, the Utes came out inspired, though they continued to trial the Horned Frogs. Gabe Madsen was particularly potent shooting the three and helped to cut TCU’s lead down to three.
Madsen helps cut TCU's lead to six, 35-29 with a three before the TO. There is 5.6 seconds left to play in the first half. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) December 22, 2022
Around the 12-minute mark of the second half the game was back to being tied at 46 with the crowd fully invested in the game again.
Defensively, Branden Carlson was impressive. By his second block of the game he moved into the top-four all-time for the Runnin’ Utes in career blocks.
.@ballerbranden35 moving up the ALL-TIME UTES rankings!! 👀
David Foster – 219
Luke Nevill – 205
Mitch Smith – 157
Branden Carlson – 155 https://t.co/wfxMoFSzLC— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) December 22, 2022
Utah would end the night 46% from the field, 35% from the three and 62% from the free throw. The Utes were efficient rebounding bringdown 34 off the glass. The one black mark for the Runnin’ Utes were turnovers ending the night with 19 that led to 23 TCU points.
Gabe Madsen had a productive night shooting the ball putting up 26 points for the Utes and Marco Anthony was a rebounding machine with 10 to his name. Rollie Worster led the team with four assists.
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
