Willamette falls to Division I Opponent University of Utah in Exhibition Game
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The University of Utah, which is affiliated with the Pacific 12 Conference in Division I athletics, jumped out to an 25-12 lead midway through the first half and never looked back, defeating Willamette University 104-47 at the Huntsman Center on Friday, Nov. 9.Â
Eleven players score for Bearcats
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The University of Utah, which is affiliated with the Pacific 12 Conference in Division I athletics, jumped out to an 25-12 lead midway through the first half and never looked back, defeating Willamette University 104-47 at the Huntsman Center on Friday, Nov. 9.
"No matter what, you've got to give [Utah] credit," Willamette Head Coach Kip Ioane said. "The crowd, the size of the arena, we got a little ahead of ourselves and didn't execute the way we are capable of."
Following NCAA guidelines, the game was scheduled as a regular season contest for Utah and an exhibition for Willamette. The Utes improved to 1-0 with the victory, while Willamette remained 0-0.
Six players for the Utes registered double figures in scoring. Jordan Loveridge recorded a double-double to lead all scorers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Dallin Bachynski also notched a double-double in the victory, after finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Eleven of the 13 Willamette players who saw action on the court scored for the Bearcats. Senior transfer Elliot Babcock-Krenk (Wing, Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS/Humboldt State Univ.) led the team with seven points, while shooting 2 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Playing in his hometown, Oliver Hughes (Sr., Wing, Salt Lake City, UT/Judge Memorial HS) recorded six points in 11 minutes while shooting 50% from the field. Trevor Bos (Jr., Guard, Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) chipped in with five points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Utes started off hot, connecting on their first three shots (two of which were 3-pointers) for an early 8-2 lead. They extended the lead to 13-2 before a 3-pointer by Sam Walters (Jr., Wing, Tacoma, WA/Stadium HS) cut into the deficit.
A 21-9 run by the Utes pushed their lead to 20 at 34-14 with 8:04 remaining in the first half. They went into halftime with a 52-22 advantage.
Willamette improved its efforts on both sides of the ball early in the second half. Babcock-Krenk connected on 1 of 2 free throws and a 3-point shot, while the defense limited Utah to just two points in the first 3:17.
The Utes, however, weren't contained for long, going on a 16-6 run to make the score 70-32. They gradually pulled away, surpassing the century mark with just under a minute to go in the game.
"For us, we take a look at the little things. In these types of games, you don't get exposed by big plays, you're exposed by little things," Coach Ioane said.
The Bearcats will kick off their regular season on Friday, Nov. 16 against the University of La Verne (Calif.) at 5 p.m. (PST) in the Northwest Conference Tipoff Classic at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.
Willamette will play its home opener on the very next night (Saturday, Nov. 17) while hosting a pair of games in the second round of the NWC Tipoff Classic. The evening will begin with Lewis & Clark taking on Colorado College at 5 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will play Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) at 7 p.m.
Trevor Bos finished with five points, four rebounds and three assists in an exhibition game against Utah on Friday.