SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men’s basketball team fought #4/3 UCLA to the bitter end Thursday night and got within 68-64 with 2:38 left to play but ultimately fell to a poised Bruins team 78-71 inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Utah kept pace with UCLA’s high-powered offense early on in the game, trailing just 14-12 at the 10:59 media break after back-to-back takes from Mike Saunders Jr. However, the Bruins would go on to hit nine of its next 12 shots from the field to go up 26-14.
SLICING to the basket, @icemikeg3 with the pretty 2??
?? https://t.co/8surFedpYz°#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/WIdTnxQqXl
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 24, 2023
The Runnin’ Utes (17-12, 10-8 Pac-12) would get as close as 29-22 after Marco Anthony knocked down both of his free throws. UCLA would then hit seven of its next eight from the floor, but a late fadeaway from Lazar Stefanovic brought Utah within 43-31 of the Bruins heading into the break.
Ben Carlson and Branden Carlson got the Utes going early in the second half, scoring nine-straight points for Utah before Saunders drained a huge three to bring them within 52-43 at the 13:58 mark. Down 61-45 after the Bruins (24-4, 15-2 Pac-12) reeled off a 9-2 run with 10:38 left to go, Utah called a timeout to slow things and regroup. That timeout served fruitful as the Runnin’ Utes went on a 14-1 run capped up by a lay-in from Marco Anthony to cut UCLA’s lead down to 62-59 with 5:11 left on the clock.
With this bucket, @icemikeg3 sets a new career high??
?? https://t.co/8surFedpYz°#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/bzu0AnKUUY
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 24, 2023
However, UCLA veterans Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell took over down the stretch and answered each and every Utah basket – including the dagger from Jaquez Jr. to put the Bruins on top 74-64 with 1:03 remaining in the game.
Saunders Jr. finished with a career-high 25 points for Utah on 10-of-17 shooting while Br. Carlson chipped in with 14 points and three blocks. Anthony was just a point shy of a double-double, posting nine points on 12 boards – which ties his season high. Bostyn Holt also saw extensive minutes scoring nine points to go with seven rebounds for Utah.
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