Utah Tech's Ethan Potter stole the show at Burns Arena, dropping 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead his team to a 102-91 victory over Southern Utah. The win marked a strong performance by the Trailblazers, who were predicted to win by 10.6 points by CHD Scout - a prediction that ultimately proved accurate.
The first half was all Utah Tech, as they stormed out to a 52-43 lead behind Potter's 15 points and 6 rebounds. Chance Trujillo and Britton Berrett also chipped in with 9 and 8 points, respectively, as the Trailblazers' offense clicked on all cylinders. Southern Utah's Jaiden Feroah did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring 18 points in the first half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Trailblazers' hot shooting.
The second half saw Southern Utah make a push, with Feroah continuing to dominate and Elijah Duval adding 15 points of his own. However, Utah Tech's offense never really slowed down, with Potter and company maintaining a comfortable lead throughout. The Trailblazers' 50 second-half points were enough to secure the 11-point win, a margin that closely matched the pre-game prediction.
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Final
Feroah's performance was one of the brightest spots for Southern Utah, as he finished with 35 points and 12 rebounds. His efforts, combined with Duval's 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, made for a formidable duo, but ultimately fell short against the balanced attack of Utah Tech.
The win improves Utah Tech's record to 11-11, and while it may not have been an upset, it's a crucial victory for a team looking to build momentum. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not carry significant weight in the eyes of the selection committee, but it's a step in the right direction for a team trying to bolster its resume. For Southern Utah, the loss drops them to 7-14, and as a Quadrant 3 game, it's a missed opportunity to pick up a quality win.
In the end, Utah Tech's victory serves as a reflection of the team's ability to perform when it matters. With the tournament landscape beginning to take shape, the Trailblazers want to build on this win and make a push for a postseason berth. As it stands, their resume could use some more impressive victories, but for now, they'll take the win and move forward.