Branden Carlson gave Utah basketball fans quite the Senior Night performance with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the Utes’ 88-59 victory over California on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
Carlson hit 12 of 17 shots overall and scored 17 points in the first half when Utah (18-11, 9-9 Pac-12) seized control.
Deivon Smith, also playing his final home game for Utah, scored 18 points with 10 assists and three steals. Senior Gabe Madsen added 17 points, four rebounds and four assists as the Utes won for the third time in four games.
Jalen Cone led Cal (13-17, 9-10) with 19 points, while Fardaws Aimaq scored 15. The Bears, who only shot 34.4 percent, lost their second consecutive road game after winning three-game overall.
The Golden Bears were within 10 points of Utah early in the second half when the Utes blew the game open with a 16-4 run. Madsen capped the spurt with one of his a 3-pointer, one of three he made in the half.
Cal trailed early but pulled within 10-7 on a pair of free throws by Jaylon Tyson. Utah responded with five straight points, on a Lawson Lovering putback and a 3-pointer by Carlson.
Minutes later, Carlson put Utah up by 10 with an offensive rebound and dunk. He later gave the Utes a 12-point lead, their biggest of the half, with a layup.
The Utes took control midway through the second half thanks to a 7-0 run, including a second-chance dunk by Lovering, one of Carlson’s four treys and Madsen’s driving layup.
Utah led 42-32 at halftime after outrebounding Cal 28-14 and outscoring the visitors 22-12 in the paint.
The Utes hit 50.8 of their shots, including 12 of 29 from 3-point range. They had 20 assists to Cal’s 11 and won the rebounding battle 47-29.
Utah’s Keba Keita contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.
–Field Level Media