ST. GEORGE — The new-look Trailblazers are finally back home in St. George.
Utah Tech’s Tanner Christensen, here in a file photo, is averaging 13.7 points per game as WAC play begins Saturday, Dec. 2, St. George, Utah | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
After a season-opening six-game road trip, the Utah Tech men’s basketball team opens its home schedule and plays its first Western Athletic Conference game of the year Saturday night at Burns Arena at 7 p.m.
The Trailblazers will take on in-state rival Utah Valley University in a highly anticipated WAC matchup. The game will be broadcast on The Fan Sports Network, 99.5 FM.
Utah Tech holds a 3-3 overall record going into the conference schedule. UVU (5-2) already has a WAC win after beating Seattle University on Wednesday night.
Head coach Jon Judkins, in his 19th year, puts a relatively new, young Utah Tech team on the floor. Despite their youth, the Trailblazers have five of the 35 WAC players who currently average double-digit scoring.
David Elliott (14.7 points per game), Tanner Christensen (13.7 ppg), Aric Demings (10.8 ppg), Beon Riley (10.5 ppg) and Jaylen Searles (10.2) are all off to high-flying starts for the Trailblazers.
The highlight of Utah Tech’s campaign so far was an 81-79 overtime victory at Jacksonville State. Conversely, their lowlight came at Washington State, where the PAC-12 Cougars buried Utah Tech 93-53.
UVU counters with three players who average double-digit scoring while 7-footer Trevin Dorius leads the Wolverines in rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (1.4). The Wolverines defeated Seattle U 78-72 on Wednesday and also have beaten Sam Houston and Southern Mississippi.
Currently shooting 44.9% from the field as a team, UVU shot a season-high 38 free throws against Seattle U, converting at a 78.9% clip.
Utah Valley holds a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series, having won both games last season, including a 76-69 victory in St. George on Feb. 2.