Utah Hopes To Continue Success At Home Against Colorado

Jan 18, 2019, 7:06 PM

Utah Utes forward Donnie Tillman (3) takes a jump shot against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (Silas Walker, Deseret News)

(Silas Walker, Deseret News)

BY TREVOR ALLEN, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah men’s basketball team will finish a three-game home stand on Sunday when they face Colorado at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Utah (8-8, 2-2 Pac-12) is coming off of a dominating 88-70 win over Washington State on January 12. Colorado (10-6, 1-3 Pac-12) suffered their third conference loss in four games as Washington picked up a 77-70 win in Boulder on the same day, giving the Utes and Buffaloes eight days of rest.

The Utes have had success at home against Colorado since joining the Pac-12 with a 9-5 record against Colorado, including a 6-1 record at home. Their only home loss to Colorado was their first season in the Pac-12, losing 55-48. Utah’s average win margin at home against the Buffaloes since 2011 is 8.5 points per game.

Last season, Colorado beat the Utes at home 67-55 with the Buffs having three players reach double figures in scoring. Utah didn’t have a single player score in double figures, David Collette had 8 points.

In the return trip to Salt Lake City, Utah picked up a 10 point win, 64-54. Justin Bibbins went off for 24 points, including 6-for-11 from the three-point line. Colorado didn’t reach any postseason tournament last year with a 17-15 record. The Utes reached the NIT final before losing to Penn State.

This season, Sedrick Barefield leads the Utes in scoring with 15.7 points per game, Donnie Tillman averages 11.5 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game. For Colorado, McKinley Wright is posting 12.9 points per game while Tyler Bey scores 12 per game and Lucas Siewert chips in 11.4 points per game.

The Utes will be bringing back the gray uniforms against the Buffs.