Men's Basketball Resumes Non-Con Action with Jacksonville State Thursday Night

SALT LAKE CITY – After a hot start to the early Pac-12 season, #RV/-- Utah men's basketball resumes non-conference action this Thursday, Dec. 8, when it hosts Jacksonville State inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
 
Drew Goodman will guide fans through the action on Pac-12 Networks while former Stanford All-American Casey Jacobsen serves as the analyst in the first meeting ever between the Runnin' Utes and Gamecocks.
 
IN THE POLLS
After going 2-0 in its early conference games that included a win over then-No. 4 Arizona, Utah received 16 votes in the latest Associated Press Men's Basketball Poll. It marked the first time Utah had received votes in the AP Poll since week #2 of the 2019-20 season.
 
WORSTER GARNERS PAC-12 POW
Utah guard Rollie Worster had an outstanding weekend, guiding the Utes to a 2-0 start in Pac-12 play for the first time since 2017-18 that included the toppling of then-No. 4 Arizona. He wrapped up the weekend averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting .478 from the field to go along with a 1.9 assist to turnover ratio.
 
This is the first player of the week award for Utah since the week of Feb. 1, 2021, and marks the 13th time the Utes have had a player named Pac-12 Player of the Week since joining the league.
 
The junior captained the Runnin' Utes past then-No. 4 Arizona at home and nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for his first-career double-double. Meanwhile, his 11 rebounds was a new career-high while holding Arizona's Kerr Kriisa to just four points on 1-of-9 shooting.
 
Worster was critical for the Utes all game, but especially in the waning moments of regulation and in the overtime period – which including him knocking down the eventual game-winning free throws in overtime.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
Through games on Dec. 5, Rollie Worster is just 1-of-4 listed guards to average at least 10 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists with at least a 2.0 assists/turnover ratio and .450 shooting percentage.
 

 
POST WAZZU NOTES

• Utah opened Pac-12 play 2-0 for the first time since 2017 and third time overall (2014-15, 2017-18)
• 1st road win in OT since defeating St. Mary's 67-58 on March 21, 2018, in the third round of the NIT
• Have now held opponents under 40-percent shooting in 8-of-9 games
• Held then-No. 4 Arizona and Washington State to just 8-of-58 (.137) from 3-point range
• Utah has now won seven of its last eight games in Pullman and 9-3 all-time

 LAST TIME OUT
Utah avoided the proverbial trap game last Sunday at Washington State, but needed a little extra time to defeat the Cougars 67-65 inside Beasley Coliseum. Marco Anthony and Rollie Worster were the heroes on the offensive end while Gabe Madsen and Keba Keita made critical plays down the stretch and in overtime to help Utah kick off Pac-12 play 2-0.
 
Worster tied his career-high with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists to go with his go-ahead free throws that ended up being the game-winning points. Anthony added 13 points of his own on six rebounds and 3-of-5 from the line, but none more important than his and-1 with less than six seconds left to play that tied the game up. Madsen closed out with 11 points on 3-of-4 from beyond the arc with one critical block with 1:58 left go play while Lazar Stefanovic chipped in with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. Keita, finished with three points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks – including the one on WSU's final shot of the regulation.
 
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Utes will get some days off now to rest up before welcoming in UTSA on Tuesday, Dec. 13, for the final game inside of the Jon M. Huntsman Center for the 2022 calendar year. Krista Blunk will once again have the call for Utah fans while Steve Wojciechowski serves as the analyst in the second meeting ever between the Utes and Roadrunners.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The in-state rivalry between Utah and BYU is slated for next Saturday, Dec. 17., at 4 p.m. (MT) inside the Marriott Center and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The Runnin' Utes will then close out non-conference action the following week against current #24/25 TCU on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Vivint Arena as part of the Runnin' Utes Holiday Classic. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. (MT) on Pac-12 Mountain.  
 
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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