SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men’s basketball team took care of business Thursday night against Hawai’i inside the Delta Center 79-66.
It was all Utah (5-2) to start the game with the Runnin’ Utes holding a 23-13 lead over Hawai’i at the 11:57 media break after Cole Bajema drained his sixth-straight free-throw. Big man Branden Carlson helped Utah gain that lead early on, scoring seven-straight points before his fellow front court players tacked on eight more points.
However, the visiting Rainbow Warriors (5-1) did not back down and answered with a 14-3 run to take the 27-26 lead against Utah – which forced a timeout by head coach Craig Smith with 8:16 on the clock. Utah regained the lead shortly out of said timeout but turnovers kept Hawai’i within striking distance as both squads headed into the locker room with Utah on top 39-34.
The Runnin’ Utes opened the second frame with a 11-5 run to get up 50-39 at the 14:54 media break. Utah continued to slug past the Rainbow Warriors in the paint to go up 61-47 at the midway point. However, Hawai’i didn’t back down and brought the Utah lead down to single-digits, 68-59, with 5:43 left to go but Hunter Erickson took control of the situation and scored three-straight baskets to push the lead back into the double-digit range before the horn rang with Utah on top.
Carlson led the Utes with a game-high 17 points on six rebounds while Erickson pitched in with 15 points on 6-of-9…
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