Utah Basketball Battled Their Way To 88-80 Win Over Eastern Washington
Nov 30, 2024, 5:24 PM | Updated: 7:25 pm
Utah Basketball Ezra Ausar. PHOTO by Utah Athletics.
SALT LAKE CITY—It wasn’t the prettiest game, but Craig Smith’s Runnin’ Utes battled their way to an 88-80 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles.
Gabe Madsen led the Utes with 28 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Ezra Ausar scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
It was a physical game, highlighted by the fact that the two teams combined to shoot 63 free throws. There were 44 total fouls called, including three technical fouls assessed to Eastern Washington.
This was a surprisingly difficult contest for the Utes, meaning this game has to serve as a wake-up call.
Tonight's Final:
Thanks for coming out today, Utah fans‼️See you back here at the Huntsman Center on December 7th! pic.twitter.com/Cw2km3qnVI
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 1, 2024
Starting Lineup
For the second straight game, the Utes were at full strength. The starting lineup included Miro Little, Gabe Madsen, Mike Sharavjamts, Ezra Ausar, and Lawson Lovering.
EWU vs Utah First Half
Utah controlled the tip and got into their offense. Eventually, Gabe Madsen got the ball coming off a pick action and went hard to the rim for a layup. On the Utes next possession, G. Madsen came off the same action from the top to the other side and was fouled at the rim. He made both free throws to give Utah a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the game.
Eastern Washington responded with a quick four points of their own to tie it up 4-4. Then G. Madsen knocked down his first 3-pointer to make it 7-4.
Utah’s next possession, Ezra Ausar scored his first bucket at the rim. He then knocked down a turnaround jumper from the low post on the ensuing possession. He then posted up for a third consecutive possession and drew a foul, which got the game to its first media timeout.
14:53
After the break, Ausar made 1-of-2 free throws, but Utah went cold from the field over the next couple of minutes.
Mike Sharavjamts got to the rim a couple of times but had two layups roll off the rim. Mason Madsen missed a 3-point attempt off the bounce.
This allowed EWU to go on a 6-1 run to take a 14-12 lead at the next media timeout.
11:56
After the second media break, Utah came out with a bit more energy and intensity. M. Madsen took and missed three, but Lawson Lovering hauled in the offensive rebound. He then dished to M. Madsen, who cut to the rim and made a layup at the rim to make it 14-14.
On the next possession, Lovering was fouled after a strong post-up and made 1-of-2 free throws to make it 15-14.
After a bit of a skirmish in which Lovering was tossed to the floor, the play went to review. Lovering was initially called for an over-the-back foul, but a technical foul was assessed to the EWU defender. That gave G. Madsen two free throws and Utah retained possession.
After working the offense, Little was fouled driving to the rim, which resulted in a 1+1 attempt. He missed the free throw but Lovering hauled in the offensive rebound, before losing it and Ausar secured it. He then threw out top to G. Madsen, who swung to M. Madsen and he knocked down a 3-pointer plus the foul. EWU was then assessed another technical foul. G. Madsen made 1-of-2 fres throws and M. Madsen missed his free throw attempt.
All of that made it 21-14, Utah. Later, M. Madsen knocked down a baseline jumper to make it 23-17,
Eastern Washington made consecutive 3-pointers to tie it up 23-23 at the next media break.
7:18
After the break, Ausar knocked down 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to make it 24-23. After getting a stop on the other end, M. Madsen drove baseline and found his brother cutting to the right corner and G. Madsen knocked down his second 3-pointer of the game.
Erickson was fouled on a 3-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws, 30-27. A couple of possessions later, G. Madsen found a clear path from the left wing and drove to the rim for a big dunk. Next possession, Sharavjamts got into the paint and missed a pullup jumper but was able to tap in his own miss. Then, Jake Wahlin secured a long rebound on the run and took it the other way for a fastbreak dunk.
That got Utah to the final media timeout with a 38-32 lead.
2:57
After a couple of empty possessions due to missed shots or turnovers, Ausar would get going. He had five straight points, finishing strong at the rim on consecutive buckets and then drawing a foul on a third attempt at the rim and knocking down 1-of-2 free throws.
Utah went into the locker room with 43-41 lead.
EWU vs Utah Second Half
EWU scored first to tie it up 43-43, but Ausar picked up where he left off in the first half by scoring the first bucket at the rim.
Lovering secured another offensive rebound and threw down a putback dunk.
It was a bit of a slower start to the half; those were the only points scored in nearly five minutes of action.
15:50
After the break, Utah picked it up offensively. G. Madsen started a little run with a 3-point make, then Ausar drew fouls and knocked down 1-of-2 free throws on consecutive possessions. He added a layup on the third possession.
Then Lovering finished an opportunity in transition; two possessions later, he added another, plus the foul, and made the free throw to make it 59-50, Utah. He threw down a big dunk off a strong post-up, sealing the defender high-side.
Utah then got out in transition, which led to Little finding Wahlin underneath. He was fouled at the rim and knocked down 1-of-2 free throws.
Later, Lovering hauled in another offensive rebound off of a Little miss from deep and threw down another big dunk.
On the defensive end, Lovering blocked a jump hook; Littletook it the other way and found G. Madsen cutting to the rim for a layup. This was the biggest run of the game for Utah, which had clearly gained momentum, and EWU took a timeout with Utah, which went up 66-53.
11:53
After the break, G. Madsen drove the lane and got another layup to make it 68-53. EWU was assessed another technical to their bench, during their offensive possession. That gave G. Madsen two at the charity stripe and he made both.
Later, Lovering hauled in another offensive rebound and putback to make it 72-59. Unfortunately, EWU went on a 6-0 run to make it 72-65, before the final break in the action.
7:56
Following the fourth media timeout, Little took a three and was fouled; he made 2-of-3 from the line. A couple of possessions later, G. Madsen hit Little, cutting to the rim for the layup and the foul, and made the free throw.
EWU would not go away; they kept it close with timely bucket after bucket.
3:43
Ausar then got another layup to go plus the harm, and he made his free throw. Little got another layup to make it 82-73. Lovering finished another strong post-up with a strong jump hook off the glass.
Off of a Lovering post-up, he dished to Wahlin at the foul line, who got to the rim and was fouled. He made both free throws, which made it 86-75 with about a minute left. EWU continued to push for points, but Utah secured the 88-80 victory.
