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Carlson, Anthony Post Career-High Nights in Rout of Sacramento State

by Utah Athletics
Nov 13, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – Backed by career-highs from Branden Carlson and Marco Anthony, the Utah men's basketball team moved to 2-0 with an 89-56 rout of Sacramento State Saturday night inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
 
Carlson posted a career-high night with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting while Anthony pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds. Since the 2010-11 season, there have only been 12 other Utes to record 15-plus rebounds in a game with the last Ute to pull down 15 or more rebounds was Tyler Rawson at Washington State on Feb. 17, 2018.
 
After a slow start (0-for-4) to the game, the Utah offense erupted for a 9-0 run that was capped off by a corner three from Rollie Worster and forced a Sacramento State timeout with 16:10 on the clock. Carlson started that 9-0 spurt for Utah, scoring six-straight points – two of which were huge dunks that got the crowd roaring.

 
Lazar Stefanovic picked up his first-career bucket at the 12:14 mark on a back cut after fellow countryman Dusan Mahorcic found the freshman. A few minutes later, Bostyn Holt recorded his first Division I basket after climbing the ladder to grab the offensive rebound and finished with a kiss off the backboard to put the Utes (2-0) on top 25-12.

 
After the Hornets closed within 36-30 of the Utes with 2:48 left in the first frame, the Utes went on a 9-0 run that was capped off by a four-point play from David Jenkins Jr. For the second time in as many games, the senior drew contact from the near wing and connected on the trey to put Utah on top 45-30 heading into the break.
 
Carlson continued where he left off in the first half and drained a triple on a fast-break to start the second frame to tie his career-high – which was set last season at Washington (Jan. 24, 2021). On the next possession, Carlson found a wide-open Worster under the basket after inbounding the ball to the big man to force a Sacramento State (1-1) timeout just 2:54 into the second stanza.
 
After pushing its lead to 56-36 heading into the 15:07 media break, a 15-5 run ensued that spanned 4:37 minutes put Utah ahead 71-41 with 10:30 to go. The lead would go up and down the remainder of the game but not before the Utes hit their largest lead of the game (33) after Holt hit both of free throws to make it 89-56.
 
Carlson's 21 points was a game-high while Gach added 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in his season-debut after the NCAA granted his waiver. Anthony finished the night with six points on 16 rebounds and six assists – two shy of his career-high.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah is now 2-1 all-time against the Hornets while head coach Craig Smith moves to 3-0 in his career versus Sacramento State … the Utes have now started the season 2-0 three-consecutive seasons with the win and six of the last seven … the last time Utah has recorded 50-plus rebounds in back-to-back games came in the first two games of the 2019-20 season: at Nevada (52) and vs. Mississippi Valley State (68) … the last time a Ute had exactly 17 rebounds in a game was Delon Wright against St. Katherine on Dec. 28, 2013 … Utah converted 19 offensive boards into a 21-8 advantage in second-chance points … 12-of-13 players that saw the floor scored … the Utes went 26-of-36 from the line tonight, the last time Utah made 25-plus free throws in a game was vs. #24 USC (25) in double OT at the Pac-12 Tournament this past March … Utah also assisted on 18 of its 28 made field goals.
 
UP NEXT
The Utes wrap up their three-game homestand to open the season this Monday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. (MT) when they welcome in Bethune-Cookman as part of the first game in the Sunshine Slam MTE. Jacob Tobey will have the call between the Runnin' Utes and Wildcats while Ernie Kent serves as the analyst in the Pac-12 Mountain broadcast.
 
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
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