For the second time in three games, the Utah Utes were on the wrong end of basketball fireworks. The 11th-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs dominated the Utes from start to finish in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, with a final score of 82-59.
DENVER—For the second time in three games, the Utah Utes were on the wrong end of basketball fireworks. The 11th-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs dominated the Utes from start to finish in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, with a final score of 82-59.
Gonzaga jumped out to an early lead, and didn’t look back. The Bulldog trio of guard Eric McClellan, forward Domontas Sabonis, and Kyle Wiltjer combined for 58 points on 24-34 shooting, 6-7 from three-point range, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists. Utah had no answer from start to finish for biggest Gonzaga contributors.
Utah sophomore center Jakob Poeltl was forced to the bench with 6:38 in the first half after his second foul, with the score at 31-26 in favor of the Bulldogs. Gonzaga finished the half on a 13-4 run with Utah’s defensive pillar watching from the sideline.
The Bulldogs continued the onslaught in the second half, forcing two Utes turnovers in the first 2:16, bringing the total to 10 at that point, while stretching out a 35-14 run that bridged the halftime break.
The Utes could not recover, allowing Gonzaga to expand its lead to 80-50 at its highest point, while making 12 fewer shots than the Bulldogs, while attempting nine fewer shots.
Utah finished the season with a 27-9 record, with a second-place finish in the Pac-12 regular season and Pac-12 tournament.
Utah Utes Postgame Press Conference:
Utah Utes vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Highlights:
