Gonsalves, Gooden Lead Utah Tech In Crushing Of Chapman

SALT LAKE CITY – Noa Gonsalves and Cameron Gooden carried the Utah Tech Trailblazers to a big victory over the Chapman University Panthers.

The Blazers hosted the Panthers at Burns Arena in Saint George on Friday, December 9.

Utah Tech soundly defeated Chapman, 99-58.

TRAILBLAZERS WIN!!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/s6Be3Evq2l

— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 10, 2022

Gonsalves and Gooden led the way with a combined 38 points.

The Trailblazers and Panthers battled back and forth with each other for the opening eight minutes of action. Around the 11-minute mark of the first half, Utah Tech started to pull away.

Following the first 20 minutes of action, the Blazers owned a 51-29 lead.

After the Panthers and Trailblazers came out of the locker room, Utah Tech built its lead to a high of 47 points. Over the final 20 minutes of game time, Utah Tech outscored Chapman, 48-29.

Cam Gooden scoop layup puts him in double digits for the night!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/EAMjYYlTVW

— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 10, 2022

The Trailblazers finished the night shooting 54.1 percent from the field, including 41.9 percent from beyond the arc. Chapman was limited to 39.6 percent overall and 30.4 percent on three-pointers.

Utah Tech won the battle of the boards with a plus-14 advantage in rebounding. The Blazers also dished out 13 more assists than the Panthers.

Chapman struggled throughout the final 30 minutes of the contest and turned the ball over 11 more times than Utah Tech. The Panthers also had the ball stolen 16 times.

Five Trailblazers reached double figures in scoring. Gonsalves and Gooden each scored 19 points to lead Utah Tech. Gonsalves shot 7-11 overall and 5-8 from distance. He added two rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block in 25 minutes. Gooden went 8-13 from the field, including 2-6 from deep. He also had one rebound, six assists, and four steals in 26 minutes.

NOA GONSALVES #MACU3 gives him a game high 14 points so far here in the first half!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/98vsV0nGlZ

— Utah Tech Men's Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 10, 2022

Isaiah Pope added 10 points. Dancell Leter and Frank Staine combined for 24 points off the bench.

Chapman was carried by Jake Heberle’s double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

With the win, the Trailblazers improved their record to 5-5 this season.

Utah Tech’s next game is at home against Masters College on Saturday, December 17 at 7 p.m. (MDT). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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