ST. GEORGE — The Trailblazers are finding their non-conference schedule to be challenging, suffering a pair of losses to PAC-12 men’s basketball teams this week. But they also took a major step to building the program with the signing of a top recruit.
Utah Tech kept it close against Washington Monday night, eventually falling 78-67, and the Trailblazers scored the first four points against Arizona but lost 104-77, according to press releases from Utah Tech Athletics.
Washington 78, Utah Tech 67
Against the Huskies, Utah Tech (1-3 overall, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference) got off to a quick start, thanks to the hot shooting hand of sophomore forward Tanner Christensen, who scored UT’s first eight points to lead his squad to an early 8-4 lead.
Washington wrestled the lead away with a 13-4 run, which was spurred on by a pair of Cole Bejema 3-pointers, to bolt out to a 17-12 advantage.
However, Christensen, who is from Spokane, Washington, sparked a 13-0 Blazer rally, accounting for 10 of those points. Meanwhile, Tacoma, Washington, native and freshman Asjon Anderson nailed a 3-pointer in the run, as Utah Tech led 25-17 with just over eight minutes to play in the period.
The Huskies stayed within striking distance and managed to trim the Utah Tech lead down to 36-34 by halftime.
Washington regained the lead at 46-42 with a 12-6 spurt to begin the second half.
The Trailblazers answered by hitting their next five shots, including eight points in the paint from Christensen. Meanwhile, junior guard Isaiah Pope drained a 3-pointer as Utah Tech erased the deficit and went back on top by a 53-47 count with 12:19 remaining.
After Washington pulled even at 55-55, Cameron Gooden nailed a 3-pointer to put UT back up 58-55 with 9:51 to go. The game was delayed over 25 minutes at the 7:44 mark of the second half due to a shot clock malfunction.
However, that would be the final time the Blazers would lead as the Huskies rattled off a 14-2 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 69-60 with 4:45 left.
Christensen finished with a game and career-high 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting. The sophomore forward also tallied four rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes.
Meanwhile Pope hit 5-of-9 from the floor en route to a season-high 13 points off the bench. Pope hit a pair of 3-pointers and pulled down five boards. Gooden added nine points and co-led the team with seven rebounds.
Utah Tech shot 40.6 percent from the floor (26-of-64), and was 7-of-24 from the perimeter (.292). UT went 8-of-14 at the line (.571), but was only 1-of-3 at the stripe in the second half.
The Trailblazers outrebounded Washington 38-25, 15-4 on the offensive glass, and turned the ball over a season-low eight times.
Arizona 104, Utah Tech 77
Utah Tech hit the road again, this time to face the Arizona Wildcats. The Blazers, however, could not overcome a hot shooting night by No. 12 Arizona in falling to the Wildcats
Utah Tech got off to a quick 4-0 start thanks to four early points from Dancell Leter. Arizona (3-0) countered with 10-straight points as the Wildcats blitzed the Blazers with a 33-7 run to race out to a commanding 33-11 lead midway through the first half.
The Wildcats knocked down 13 of their first 16 shots, including a 6-of-6 clip from the perimeter, on their way to a 49-21 halftime cushion.
Despite forcing seven early turnovers on defense, the Trailblazer offense stumbled out of the gates, connecting on four of its first 18 attempts and was just 1-of-7 from downtown, over the first 10 minutes of play.
Utah Tech played better in the second half, scoring a season-high 56 points after halftime on 19-of-35 (.543) from the floor (7-of-16 3FG, .438).
However, Arizona proved to be too much as the Wildcats tallied 55 second-half points and did not see their lead dip below 20 points after halftime.
Noa Gonsalves led five Trailblazers in double figures with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Leter added 12 points along with a team-high five rebounds, while Cameron Gooden and Frank Staine each tallied 12 points apiece. Meanwhile, Trey Edmonds poured in a career-high 11 points off the bench on 4-of-7 shooting.
Utah Tech shot 36.1 percent from the floor (26-of-72) on the night, which included a season-high 10 made 3-pointers (10-of-32; .313). UT went 15-of-24 at the line (.625), and dished out 13 assists against 12 turnovers.
The Trailblazers will be on the road again this weekend to face the University of Idaho at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.
Nevada standout signs letter of intent
The Utah Tech’s men’s basketball program got some good news this week with the Wednesday signing of Las Vegas-area standout prep guard Angelo Kambala.
“We are thrilled to announce Angelo is joining our program,” Coach Jon Judkins said. “Angelo is a highly competitive basketball player who has played with some of the best high school and AAU competition from around the country. He brings a skill set that will greatly impact our team with his ability to really shoot the ball at a high level.”
Kambala, who is 6-foot-0, is beginning his senior season at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where as a junior team captain last season he averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6 assists and 4.0 steals to help lead the Patriots to a 2022 Nevada 5A state championship.