Utes Efficient In Win Over Bulldogs: NCAA Tournament

It’s going to be hard to top the excitement of a double-overtime upset victory in the previous game between Arkansas-Little Rock and Purdue. For the Utah Utes, it is about getting their best player 7’0″ F Jakob Poeltl involved early in game. Poeltl averages 17.6 points and 9 rebounds per game. Early in the contest Fresno State did a great job double-teaming Poeltl, holding him to 6 points and 10 boards by halftime. As the Bulldogs continued their focus on containing Poeltl, the Utes found a way to take advantage of that defensive focus. Three of the other four starters all finished with double digit points and Utah shot 54% from the field.

The 2nd half saw the Bulldogs take a one point lead under ten minutes to play as G Julien Lewis started to heat up from beyond the arc and contributing defensively with a steal that resulted in an easy layup. F Karachi Edo had some of the best highlight dunks you will see in this tournament and was tasked with guarding Poeltl. It was Poeltl, though, that got the better of that height advantage finishing the game with 16 points and a career high 18 rebounds.The Utes out-rebounded the Bulldogs by 22 boards (37-15)!

The one point lead was as close as this game got to being competitive as Utah tightened up on defense and went on a 19-2 run over about 6 minutes, eventually beating the Bulldogs 80-69. The Utes advance to Saturday’s Round 2 and will face the winner of Gonzaga vs Seton Hall.

Ryan Edwards

@ryanedwards1043

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports