Yotes Warming Up for Game at Utah
Yotes Fall to Utah on National TV
Mike Safford
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Jordan Loveridge had 15 points and 10 rebounds, leading the University of Utah to a 72-38 victory over The College of Idaho, before 7,938 fans inside the John M. Huntsman Center.
Box Score
The Runnin' Utes (8-4) never trailed in the contest, using a 14-0 first half run to break open a tight game, as the NCAA Division I squad closed out their non-conference schedule.
The Coyotes, who played the game as an exhibition, made just 23-percent of their field goal attempts, including just 5-of-23 shots from outside the arc.
Playing in front of the largest crowd in school history and for the first-time ever on national television, the Yotes missed their first seven shots from the floor - however, hung tough, pulling within 9-8 on an Antonio Garrett runner in the lane. The Yotes trailed 16-12 after a Sydney Donaldson trey, but Utah got back-to-back three-pointers from Brandon Taylor the decisive 14-point run that featured a trio of dunks by the Runnin' Utes two seven-foot posts. The C of I got back within 34-20 after a Taylor Pruett three, but Utah took a 37-20 lead to the break.
A steal and fastbreak dunk by Rodney Delgardo got the Yotes within 39-22 early in the second half, but Loveridge converted a three-point play and Taylor canned a triple in a 12-1 run that extended the margin to 51-23. The C of I were within 56-34 with eight minutes to go, but the Runnin' Utes ended the game on a 16-4 run.
Taylor was a perfect 4-of-4 from outside the arc, scoring 14 points in the win, with seven-footer Jason Washburn adding 10. Jarred DuBois had seven points, six rebounds, and eight assists for Utah, who made 49-percent of their field goal attempts - including 7-of-14 from long range.
Donaldson was the lone Coyote in double-figures with 10 points, with Pruett and Garrett each scoring nine points, combining for 11 rebounds. The C of I had just 11 turnovers in the game and held a 15-11 edge in offensive rebounds.
The Yotes return to action on Monday night, hosting Montana Tech at 7 p.m.