Runnin’ Utes Stifle The Oregon State Beavers With Defense On The Road

CORVALLIS, OR – The Runnin’ Utes hit the road to take on Oregon State after a dominant performance last weekend against the Washington schools with the hopes of keeping the momentum up.

Utah basketball already faced and handled the Beavers at the Huntsman Center earlier in the season. Their trip to Corvallis would prove no different and actually garnered a better result for the Utes, 63 – 44, largely thanks to their stifling defense.

The Utes finished the night shooting 42% from the field, 30% from the three, and 80% from the free throw. They were also efficient hauling in rebounds with 39 while also sharing the ball well with 16 assists.

After a slow start, Gabe Madsen turned on the burners and led the team in scoring with 13 points, while Lazar Stefanovic took charge rebounding with six and Rollie Worster distributed the ball well with seven assists.

Utah looking like they have figured themselves out. Third game in a row they have looked virtually unstoppable. Confidence is peaking at the right time. Big game in Eugene on Saturday.#GoUtes https://t.co/nCfPCJxAt8

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 27, 2023

Utah Versus Oregon First Half

Utah got off to a 10-point lead four minutes into the game before Oregon State got their first points of the game. By 12:24 in the half, the Runnin’ Utes were up 14-7 on the Beavers. Rollie Worster started the game off for the Utes accounting for seven of their first 14 points.

Worster gets things going for us here at Gill Coliseum with a 3⃣ as the clock expires!

📲 https://t.co/kvgv7rCGy0#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/UFZyv2zZE0

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2023

By the 11-minute mark, the Beavers cut Utah’s lead down to six, 17-11. Wilguens Exacte Jr. hit a three around the 10-minute mark on cleanup duty from a missed layup by Worster to put Utah up 22-11 while OSU continued to struggle scoring going on a 3:07 drought.

With 6:48 remaining, Utah’s lead expanded to 27-11. Oregon State through that time only hit one of eight from the field goal, breaking the trend with just under six to play, 27-13.

Do we get to give out hockey assists? Asking for a friend.

📲 https://t.co/kvgv7rC8Is#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/aaBTdmGxM5

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2023

With 3:46 left to play it was Utah’s turn to go on a scoring drought going a little over 3 minutes without hitting a bucket. At around the two-minute mark Gabe Madsen swirled a layup in putting the Utes up 30-15. Utah would end the half with Branden Carlson going to the line and extending the score 32-16.

At the half pic.twitter.com/EDyQdxigWV

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2023

The Utes continued their consistent play from a week ago early on being dominant off the boards with 23 rebounds to Oregon State’s 14 while also passing the ball around with nine assists.

Worster led the stat sheet in points with eight for the half and assists with three while BC was the stat leader for rebounds with five.

Utes’ Second Half With The Beavers

Out of the half Utah built their lead up to 20 points four minutes in, 40-20. The Utes continued their hot shooting going three of three from the field during that time while Oregon State continued to struggle getting buckets.

It was so nice, here are some more views of that Worster to @ballerbranden35 JAM!

📲 https://t.co/kvgv7rC8Is#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Ir3hLNBAPs

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2023

Lazar Stefanovic put in a rim-bounce three to further make Utah’s lead more comfortable, 47-22. The Beavers’ struggles to score carried on for over three minutes while also having five turnovers in just over five minutes of play.

We'll take that shooter's bounce, @erecasner 😉

📲 https://t.co/kvgv7rCGy0#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/93xHcn3LQB

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2023

Stefanovic set up a cleanup shot for Keba Keita with just under eight minutes to play putting Utah up 55-26. The Utes’ domination largely came without their best player in BC who got into early foul trouble and was used sparingly throughout the game.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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