FILE — Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) dribbles the ball throughout a males’s basketball recreation in opposition to the Idaho State Bengals on the Huntsman Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Utah gained 70-58. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Utah blew a giant first-half lead, then rallied late and downed Georgia Tech 68-64 within the opening spherical of the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Monday night time.
Gabe Madsen’s two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining on the clock sealed the win in Fort Myers, Florida. Utah will face the winner of the Marquette-Mississippi State recreation in Wednesday’s ultimate.
Listed below are 3 keys to Utah’s 68-64 win because the Utes improved to 4-1 on the season:
• 5 Utes reached double figures, led by Gabe Madsen’s 16 factors, as Utah bounced again from final week’s disappointing loss to Sam Houston with a strong win over an Atlantic Coast Convention staff. Lazar Stefanovic and Marco Anthony added 11 factors apiece and Rollie Worster made some key baskets down the stretch earlier than fouling out.
• The Utes scored the sport’s first 12 factors and had a 23-4 lead halfway by means of the primary half earlier than Georgia Tech turned up its defensive stress and tempo on offense and obtained again in it. The Jackets missed their first 9 3-point makes an attempt and have been 2 of 13 from deep within the first half.
Georgia Tech led 48-44 with 10:35 remaining and 57-54 with 7:20 left, however missed three large free throws within the ultimate 4 minutes.
• Utah dedicated 11 turnovers within the first half and led simply 36-28 on the break regardless of taking pictures 48% from the ground and 44% from 3-point vary within the first 20 minutes. The Utes had a full complement of gamers for the primary time this season; Keba Keita, Luka Tarlac and Marco Anthony have all missed video games resulting from damage or sickness.
The Utes completed with 19 turnovers, to 5 for Georgia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets scored 24 factors off these Utah turnovers.