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Runnin' Utes Dominant in Win Over Manhattan at Home

by Utah Athletics
Dec 11, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team took it out on Manhattan after its midweek loss and rolled the Jaspers to the tune of 96-62 Saturday afternoon in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
 
Utah's offense came out firing on cylinders and jumped out to an early 12-6 lead on back-to-back triples from Both Gach before slew of baskets from Branden Carlson put the Utes on top 25-15 with 9:09 to play on a lob from Gach.

 
The Runnin' Utes (7-3, 1-1 Pac-12) continued to maintain its double-digit lead into the break (47-30), behind a .550 shooting clip and 4-of-7 effort from beyond the arc. Utah also assisted on 13-of-17 field-goals in the first half – which tied for the most assists the Utes have had in any of its last five games.
 
Lahat Thioune feasted in the second half for Utah and scored 10 of his game-high and career-high 16 points Saturday in the second half to go with a perfect 8-of-8 night from the stripe. Riley Battin had his best game of the season, scoring 14 points (season-high) on 4-of-8 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists to go with a 5-of-5 night from the line. Carlson added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists on 6-of-8 shooting while Gach chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.

 
As a team, the Utes saw 12 different players score in the contest while assisting on 26-of-35 made shots – 10 of which came from deep. Utah also finished the game shooting a .583 clip as a team and .556 clip from 3-point land.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
The 55% (17-31) shooting is the best field-goal percentage for Utah in the first half this season … Saturday was the fourth time Utah has shot 50-percent or better in the second half this year … the 47 points in the first half is most in any half since Utah's Pac-12 Tournament opener this past March against Washington (51) … the last time Utah shot above .500 in a game was against Washington (.604) in the Pac-12 Tournament (3/10/21) … Harrison Creer recorded his first career field-goal at the 1:12 mark with a lay-up … Jaxon Brenchley had a new career-high in assists with three … last time Utah had four players in double-figures was against #24 USC (3/11/21) … the 34 point victory margin was the third time this season Utah has won by 30-plus points … the last time Utah hit 30-plus field-goals in a game was against Washington in the Pac-12 Tournament (3/10/21).
 
UP NEXT
Utah will get some extra days to rest this week before heading to the Show Me State to take on the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2:30 p.m. (MT). Tom Hart will have the call in the fourth meeting ever between Utah and Mizzou while Jon Sundvold serves as the analyst in the SEC Network 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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