Box Score
SALT LAKE CITY- It took a second-half rally for the University of Utah men's basketball team to beat Idaho State, 74-66, on Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center. The Bengals led by as many as 15 points in the first half before the Utes second-half shooting of 66.7 percent was too much for ISU. Utah is now 8-1 and Idaho State is 3-3.
Tomas Sanchez led ISU with 19 points and five assists,
Andre Hatchett had 15 points and eight rebounds and
Chris Hansen had 14 points. The Bengals shot 42.9 percent from the field for the game and 51.9 percent in the first half.
"Our guys played really hard and anytime you do that you have a chance to win," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "I am disappointed with the outcome and so are they and they should be. That is the way athletics is. We didn't leave anything in the locker room. We left it all out on the floor. I am really proud. We did a great job."
Utah finished shooting 58.1 percent from the field and was led by Jordan Loveridge's 27 points.
The Bengals out rebounded Utah 30-29 and had only eight turnovers and 12 assists.
Idaho State built a 35-20 and a 37-22 lead with 1:52 left in the first half but the Utes scored two 3-pointers in the final two minutes to cut their deficit to 37-28 at the break.
Idaho State maintained its lead until the 12 minute mark of the game when Loveridge hit a free throw to put Utah on top 47-46. Utah led the rest of the way but the Bengals got within four points with 1:21 left in the game at 70-66 after two free throws by Sanchez. Utah scored the final points to seal the win.
"Utah played good and made shots at the end of the game that are difficult to make," Evans said. "We had guys flying at them. We are never going to play the flawless game but we played awfully hard and that is important."
Idaho State continues its play against Pac 12 opponents with a Dec. 14 contest at Washington. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. (MST).
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