MBB Livestream: Utah vs. Colorado – Utes storm back to win 74-72 in OT
PREGAME
Utah enters the matchup 15-14 overall and 6-11 in the Pac-12, sitting in tenth place in the conference standings. Colorado enters Saturday in third place in the Pac-12 with an 10-7 record, and 21-9 overall.
A Utah wins secures their spot at as the No. 9 seed in the upcoming conference tournament next week, while a loss puts them anywhere from 9 to 11.
In the first meeting between the two teams on Jan. 12, Utah's road woes were in full effect as the Utes were blasted 91-52 in their Pac-12 road opener. Tyler Bey and Evan Battey recorded double-doubles for Colorado while Riley Battin led the Utes with eight points.
Utah will be without the services of its freshman point guard Rylan Jones, who suffered an injury in the Bay Area last weekend
Starters:
Utah — Timmy Allen, Mikael Jantunen, Alphonso Plummer, Both Gach, Brendan Carlson
Colorado — Shane Gatling, Tyler Bey, D'Shawn Schwartz, McKinley Wright, Evan Battey
FIRST HALF
*Colorado controls the tip and we are underway..
*Utah off to one of its slow starts it seems as the Utes are missing easy shots — Colorado isn't missing... Utes down 7-2 early...
*Some things never change… Carlson picks up a foul within the first two minutes of the game. Not sure if it deserved to be called but it did...
*Utah 6 — Colorado 12
14:45 left 1H
Utes only down 6, and have the ball out of media TO, but the deficit feels so much worse right now. It’s early but Utah needs to find it rhythm on offense...
*I understand Utah had the week off but it seems as if somebody forgot to tell the Utes that they have a game day — really ugly start to this one in the regular season finale...
*Battin and Brenchley now in the game for Utes, replacing Carlson and Plummer, who really didn't do much at all...
*That’s a good sign as Gach knocks down a catch and shoot three,. He was sensational in the early part of the season, awful for the middle, and is now finding his groove again — that could be big...
*Utah can not get out of its own way. fter a Gach three, Utes had a chance with two potential layups on back-to-back possessions and one resulted in a miss and the other a turnover...
*Utah 11 — Colorado 20
11:02 left 1H
Utah had a chance to cut into the deficit but turnovers still hurt. Utes with 3 turnovers, which Colorado has converted into 6 points...
*WHAT WAS THAT?!? Carlson just SHAQ’s some poor soul on Colorado with a massive dunk. Seriously, where has that type of stuff been today?...
*Gach knocks down his second three-pointer of the game... Utah 2-3 from deep while Colorado is 4-10...
*Utah continues to stay in this game and chip away. Knocking down open shots and not turning the ball over is a food recipe for success...
*Utah 22 — Colorado 28
7:41 left 1H
Gach with a game-high 11 points, but Allen with only 2p. Carlson also just picked up his second foul — but the Utes are battling...
*Not sure what Krystowiak is doing right now? Gach has 11 of Utah 22 points but he inexplicably subbed him out and has him on the bench for this key stretch. Hmmm…
*Gach and Plummer have 21 of Utah 27 points and there’s still five left in the first half… they’re going to need help…
*Utah 27 — Colorado 34
4:24 left 1H
Krsytkowiak uphappy with the officiating, and he has a right to be. Plummer hit on the arm sooting a three-pointer and no call, one of a few missed on Utah's end...
*Six different Colorado players have at least three points while only each and Plummer have hit that total for Utah — depth playing a role late in the first half...
*Gach is playing sensational today for Utah. He’s knowing when to pick his spots and when he commits to driving to the hoop, he goes all out. He’s also knocking down the three-pointer… He’s been the best player on the court today thus far
*Utah 33 — Colorado 38
42.8 left 1H
Big last few possessions upcoming here. Utah can’t close the gap entirely but has got to feel great going into the half trailing by at most 5, if they can hold...
*That kills as the Buffs hit a three-pointer right out of the timeout. And then Gach launches a 35-footer that misses… Late half execution still an issue...
HALFTIME
*Utah 33 — Colorado 41
Half
Gach with a game-high 16p while Plummer has 8p, but no other Ute has more than three...
Halftime Stats
*All-in-all, Utah has got to be satisfied with being down just 8 at the half. Early on, it looks as if the Buffs were going to run away with this game en route to another 40-pt win. But the Utes have battled and continued to fight...
*Five ways Utah wins…
1.) Knock down open three’s
2.) Allen needs to get going on offense
3.) Stay glued to Colorado three-point shooters
4.) Use press effectively
5.) Carlson stays out of foul trouble
SECOND HALF
*Utah begins with the ball and we are underway... starters out on the court for both teams...
*I see you Utah, as the Utes open up the second half with a 7-0 run...
*Utah 40 — Colorado 41
17:44 left 2H
Utah comes out on fire in the second half as a 7-0 run makes it a one-point game. Buckets by Allen and Carlson before a Plummer three-pointer were huge. Gach with assists on all three buckets...
*Utah attacking inside early, and then when Colorado collapses around Allen and Carlson, Plummer gets a wide-open three. Beautiful offense early on...
*Utah 42 — Colorado 46
15:32 left 2H
Colorado responded with a quick 5-0 run, but a Jantnunen bucket ended that run. Utah has yet to draw even with the Buffaloes…
*There you go… Allen’s layup following a Plummer three-pointer has the Huntsman Center rocking as Utah leads 47-46 with just over 13 to play...
*Utah 47 — Colorado 49
11:38 left 2H
Utah finally got the lead but a three by Wright gave it back to Colorado. Utah is inexperienced but they’re at home with a lot to play for… curious to see how this ends...
*This game is going to come down to the wire but Allen is finding his game on offense a bit — Gach needs to continue to attack as well because it opens things up for Plummer and Allen...
*Carlson just picked up his third foul with 9:39 to play. Utah had the deficit down to two but Colorado responds with a quick 6-0 run...
*Utah 49 — Colorado 55
7:41 left 2H
Allen will shoot two FT's out of the TO. Utah is hanging around, and despite taking the brief lead, can they ever pull even again?!?...
*This game is there for the taking if Utah wants it badly enough. Have to knock down the open shots and keep playing tough defense. Can not afford to give up second-chance opportunities this late...
*Gach and Plummer each with 16 while Allen is next leading scorer with 7... meanwhile Colorado has five players with at least 8 points, led by Wright's 16...
*Exceptional effort by Allen, but he missed three straight layups/putbacks before getting fouled. He’s got to finish those shots… he just does…
*That’s what Utah needed. Forced a turnover on one end and then Gach makes the layup while getting fouled. He converts and Utah trails by 2 with just 5 to play...
*That hurts as Carlson picks up his fourth by setting what was called an illegal screen… another questionable call made by the officials, and this one really hurts...
*Utah 57 — Colorado 59
3:26 left 2H
Great by play by Jantunen, who gives up his body to save the ball going out of bounds, and Gach buries the jumper to make it a one-score game...
*Here you go… Utah has it a one-game possession at final media TO while at home. Colorado more experienced, but can the Utes pull this out. Every possession counts right now, no more time for lapses…
*Great offensive rebound by Jantunen, who finds Plummer for a three-pointer and the lead with 2 minutes to go...
*Utah 60 — Colorado 61
1:33 left 2H
*Colorado has the ball after a turnaround jumper by the Buffs and a missed three-pointer by Gach...
*Utah forces a miss and Battey gets whistled for a foul — which means Jantunen will shoot 1 and 1 with 1:16 to play... and he knocks them both down for the 1-pt lead...
*Plummer with a great contest on a missed three-pointer but Wright grabs the offensive rebound. Colorado ball with 46.7 to play and 17 on the shot clock, but Utah leads by one...
*WOW, Carlson forces the miss and then Utah pushes the ball down court and he’s called for traveling. Colorado then gets an and-one on the other end to lead by 2 with 19.6 seconds left...
*Utah 64 — Colorado 64
Overtime
Gach knocks down an shot in the lane with 2.5 seconds left and Wright’s half court heave comes up short…
*Fans are going crazy as two horrendous calls went against Utah in the end and probably cost the Utes the win. But how do they respond in the next 5 minutes...
OVERTIME
*Okay Gach… I see you. His setback pull-up three-pointer banks in and gives the Utes a 5-pt lead early in OT...
*Utah 68 — *Colorado 66
1:48 left OT
Battin comes up short on a three-pt attempt but doesn’t follow the rebound… Colorado will have the ball...
*Timmy Allen is widely considered Utah's best player but has struggled a lot tonight. Curious to see what he can do in final 1:38 to effect the outcome of this game. Utah needs him to do so...
*Tie game… 1:20 left and Utah’s ball…
*Utah 70 — Colorado 72
17.1 seconds left 2H
Wright scores a layup but Utah will have the ball...
*Timmy Allen is fouled shooting a layup… he’ll shot 2 FT’s with 9.1 seconds left and Utah down 2...
*He goes 1-for-2... Colorado ball with 9.1 to go... Gach whistled for a foul (questionable), and Colorado misses 1 and 1...
*GACH IS FOULED… He’ll shoot three FT's with less than a second left to give Utah the win…
*Utah 74 — Colorado 72
FINAL
Utah storms back behind Gach’s career-high 28 points to end the regular season with a big-tike victory. Utes will No. 9 seed in Pac-12 tourney next week...
Final Stats