Runnin' Utes get back on track against Colorado State
Carlon Brown scores a career-high 16 points in Utah's win
By: Tony Pizza
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Sports
The way things had been going, the Runnin' Utes would have taken a road win against a pick-up team from the local YMCA to build confidence. Instead, Utah can use a 67-52 conference win against lowly Colorado State as a momentum builder in preparation for a rerun through the MWC gauntlet.
Utah guard Carlon Brown took advantage of teammate Luka Drca's suspension and scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Utes. Drca was suspended after the MWC deemed an elbow he issued to a TCU player on Jan. 26. broke league rules. Brown played 25 minutes--eight more than his season average--and also led the team with seven rebounds.
"Carlon was active," head coach Jim Boylen told KALL 700 sports radio. "His seven rebounds were huge for us."
Utah (12-8, 3-4) wasted no time jumping all over the Rams (6-15, 0-7), who have not won since beating Division-II Western State on Dec. 29. Utah scored the first five points as part of an 18-4 start and never looked back. Johnnie Bryant returned to form after a 2-for-15 shooting performance against Wyoming last Wednesday by scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. Tyler Kepkay was the only other Ute in double figures. Kepkay had four rebounds and four assists to go along with his 11 points.
"Obviously a big win for us after a disappointing home loss (to Wyoming) last week," Boylen said on the radio.
Utah combined the quick start on offensive with a strong stand on defense. The Utes held Colorado State to a season-low 13 first-half points on 6-for-23 shooting. Utah used its energy on both sides of the floor to take a 33-13 lead into the break.
"I thought that (Utah) did a nice job on defense," Colorado State head coach Tim Miles said. "They made it hard for us to cut and screen and get in the lane."
In the second half, it was Colorado State that got the quick start. Marcus Walker, who leads the conference in scoring, turned in seven of his game-high 23 points during a 9-2 run by the Rams that cut Utah's halftime lead to 13 points. Colorado's defense also did its part by holding the Utes to just one field goal through the first seven minutes of the second half.
Utah guard Carlon Brown took advantage of teammate Luka Drca's suspension and scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Utes. Drca was suspended after the MWC deemed an elbow he issued to a TCU player on Jan. 26. broke league rules. Brown played 25 minutes--eight more than his season average--and also led the team with seven rebounds.
"Carlon was active," head coach Jim Boylen told KALL 700 sports radio. "His seven rebounds were huge for us."
Utah (12-8, 3-4) wasted no time jumping all over the Rams (6-15, 0-7), who have not won since beating Division-II Western State on Dec. 29. Utah scored the first five points as part of an 18-4 start and never looked back. Johnnie Bryant returned to form after a 2-for-15 shooting performance against Wyoming last Wednesday by scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. Tyler Kepkay was the only other Ute in double figures. Kepkay had four rebounds and four assists to go along with his 11 points.
"Obviously a big win for us after a disappointing home loss (to Wyoming) last week," Boylen said on the radio.
Utah combined the quick start on offensive with a strong stand on defense. The Utes held Colorado State to a season-low 13 first-half points on 6-for-23 shooting. Utah used its energy on both sides of the floor to take a 33-13 lead into the break.
"I thought that (Utah) did a nice job on defense," Colorado State head coach Tim Miles said. "They made it hard for us to cut and screen and get in the lane."
In the second half, it was Colorado State that got the quick start. Marcus Walker, who leads the conference in scoring, turned in seven of his game-high 23 points during a 9-2 run by the Rams that cut Utah's halftime lead to 13 points. Colorado's defense also did its part by holding the Utes to just one field goal through the first seven minutes of the second half.
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