ST. GEORGE — The Trailblazers split a pair of Western Athletic Conference basketball games with the Mavericks on Saturday.
Utah Tech’s Tanner Christensen fights for a loose ball against UT Arlington in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
At Burns Arena in St. George, Utah Tech’s men trailed from the opening tip off until the final buzzer in an 87-66 beatdown by the University of Texas at Arlington.
The Mavericks had the top guns as all five starters for UTA scored in double figures. Shemar Wilson was the high man in the game with 16 points.
Phillip Russell and DaJuan Gordon each scored 15 for the winners, Makaih Williams netted 14 and Aaron Cash cashed in 10 points for the visitors.
The game was never in doubt as UTA raced out to a 47-33 halftime advantage. The Mavericks held the lead in 39 minutes, 41 seconds of the total 40 minute contest.
Utah Tech committed 18 turnovers which led to 22 UTA points. The visitors outscored the Trailblazers 38-24 from the paint and scored 23 points off of fast breaks compared to six Utah Tech points off the break.
The home team was outrebounded by UTA 46-32 in the game, led by a whopping 17 boards by the Mavericks’ Gordon. UTA also made nine steals compared to four for the Trailblazers.
Utah Tech missed 12 free throws (19-for-31) while UTA misfired four times from the charity stripe (16-for-20).
Jaylen Searles sank two 3-pointers and led Utah Tech with 15 points. Noa Gonsalves netted 14 for the Trailblazers and Tanner Christensen scored 11 in the setback.
The Trailblazers are seventh in the WAC standings at 8-14 overall, 4-7 in WAC action.
Utah Tech will look to get back on track Thursday, Feb. 8 against in-state rival Southern Utah in a game at Burns Arena at 7 p.m.
Also on Saturday, in Arlington, Texas, the Utah Tech women stayed hot with another WAC win beating the Mavericks 72-60.
Utah Tech’s Maddie Warren, here in a file photo, scored a game-high 25 points in a win at UT Arlington, Arlington, Texas, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Four of the five Utah Tech starters scored in double digits in the win, led by a game-high 25 points from Maddie Warren.
Macie Warren and Breaunna Gillen each scored 14 points in the victory and freshman Calyn Dallas scored 11 for the winners.
Gillen snared a team-high 10 rebounds and dispensed a game-high 11 assists to complete a triple-double for the Preseason WAC Player of the Year.
Utah Tech posted a dominant second quarter and the game was tied 34-34 at halftime.
The home team Mavericks then grabbed a slim 48-47 lead entering the final frame.
Utah Tech owned the fourth quarter, 25-12, to secure the win on the road.
The win was critical in the WAC standings as Utah Tech moved into sole possession of fourth place (13-9, 7-4 WAC) in the conference after the win.
The Trailblazers will seek their fifth consecutive victory Thursday, Feb. 8 in Cedar City in a game against rival Southern Utah, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. tip off at America First Event Center.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech’s Tanner Christensen fights for a loose ball against UT Arlington in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Caleb Stearman (20) works against UT Arlington in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Tennessee Rainwater goes to the basket against UT Arlington in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech’s Noa Gonsalves goes to the basket against UT Arlington in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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