Craig Smith, Utah Basketball Get A100-59 Win Over Alcorn State
Nov 4, 2024, 9:09 PM | Updated: Nov 5, 2024, 2:40 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – In Utah’s season opener, Craig Smith and Runnin’ Utes get the 100-59 win over Alcorn State.
The Madsen twins combined for 42 points; Gabe had 27, and Mason finished with 15 points
Final from the Huntsman Center‼️
See you all back here on November 7th! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/UuYc8DQ0Pe
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 5, 2024
The Utes started a little slow on both ends of the floor. However, midway through the opening frame, Utah started to find their groove offensively. After a 16-13 lead at the second media timeout, Utah finished the half up 50-31, which included two mini-runs of 12-6 and 13-5 to build their lead out.
Coming out of the locker room at halftime, Utah started the second period much better. They opened up with a quick 11-4 run within the first few minutes. The Utah offense shot well from beyond the arc – as they knocked down a new single-game record 19 3-pointers on 38 attempts in this one. Here are some takeaways from the game.
The Madsen Heatwaves
Both Gabe and Mason showed tonight they can get hot in a hurry. Gabe started the game 2-of-3 from deep. Shortly after Mason checked in, he knocked down two straight from 3-point range as well.
They finished the first half a combined 7-of-12 from 3-point range (Gabe 4-of-8, Mason 3-of-4), Gabe went into the locker room with 19 points, while Mason had 9.
These two were hunting for their shots, and that was a good thing for the offense tonight. They have to be disciplined and not get too 3-point happy but they showed what they’re capable of tonight.
Ezra Ausar to the free throw line
That’s going to be repeated quite often this season. The good news is that Ausar looks like a player who can draw a lot of fouls.
He had 10 free-throw attempts in the first half alone. Foul trouble for opponents can lead to other problems as the game progresses. Not to mention it’s an easy source of points.
The bad news is that Ausar can get cold from the line. At one point, he was 1-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Fortunately, he can also string together makes as well. After starting the game 1-of-6, he made six consecutive free throws to get to 7-of-12 after his first two free attempts in the second half.
Ausar finished the game with 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Miro Little, Mike Sharvjamts playmaking
Scoring production will be a bit of an X-factor for these two this season. However, their playmaking looks like something that can be counted on every night.
Both look like capable floor generals who have command of the offense and feel for their teammates.
Little ended the night with 6 points and 7 assists halfway through the second half and just always seemed to be looking for his teammates.
Sharavjamts nearly matched him with 5 assists, he added 10 points of his own, and displayed a high-level feel and creativity.
The glue guys Keanu Dawes, Jake Wahlin
Production could be up and down for these two throughout the season, but they look like the glue guys for Utah.
The guys who make hustle plays that don’t get rewarded in the box score, the tip-outs on misses where rebounds are credited to others, the pass that leads to the assist, the help defenders, and the guys who play great team defense.
Dawes finished the game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal. Wahlin had 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. The two even assisted one another on 3-point makes.
Rebounding an issue without Lawson Lovering
Utah was without Lawson Lovering tonight, and defensive rebounding was an issue.
The Utes would make consecutive stops and secure rebounds on consecutive possessions. However, they’d also have a defensive series where ASU would grab two or three offensive rebounds, then again three or four series later. This happened three or four times in the first half, and Utah still went into the locker room with a 17-16 advantage.
Utah did a better job securing rebounds in the second half, but there were still a few offensive rebounds that were too many. They finished the game +6 on the boards with 36-30 advantage but gave up 14 offensive rebounds.
