Utah Ends Non-Conference Slate With Blowout Win Over Idaho
Dec 18, 2020, 9:27 PM
Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) tries to go up for a shot under the hoop as the University of Utah and the Idaho Vandals play a basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah basketball wrapped up non-conference play with a 79-41 win over the Idaho Vandals.
Timmy Allen led all scorers with 22 points along with 6 rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Pelle Larsson was the only other Ute to score in double figures with 15 points, while also pulling down 3 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists.
Utes WIN!😁 #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ZrHO0Iyk2f
— Utah Basketball🏀 (w/ 😷) (@UtahMBB) December 19, 2020
Blowout Started In First Half
The Utes outscored the Vandals 40-16 in the first half. Timmy Allen led the way with 13 points. Ian Martinez added 7 points, including a nasty alley-oop slam over Idaho’s center.
.@UtahMBB freshman Ian Martinez has some bounce. #Utes @kslsports pic.twitter.com/yntIpiGiQ4
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) December 19, 2020
In the first 20 minutes of play, the Runnin’ Utes shot 47 percent from the field, knocked down 6 of their 17 attempts from beyond the arc and went 6-for-7 at the foul line. Nine players played in the first half for Larry Krystkowiak and seven of them scored.
For Idaho, they shot 24 percent from the floor (6-29) and 15 percent from downtown (2-13).
Great Experience For Young Players
Leading up to this game for the Utes, they haven’t been able to go deep into their bench and give their young players many minutes. With close games against Utah Valley and Idaho State, also having blowouts only late in the second half against Washington and BYU, this was a great opportunity to play the young guys.
Utah had 13 players appear in the game. Larry Krystkowiak’s son Luc played his first college basketball game and scored two points. Jaxon Brenchley and Jordan Kellier each added 3 points. Lahat Thioune had a great game with 4 points and 9 rebounds. He played more minutes in this game with Mikael Jantunen missing the contest with a nose injury.
The Utes improved their record to 4-1 on the season. They will return to the Pac-12 play on Tuesday, December 22 when they travel to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. MST and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
