Utah Tech basketball: men lose Old Hammer Rivalry, women lose on road

Written by E. George Goold
February 3, 2023

ST. GEORGE — The Trailblazers did everything but win against the top team in the Western Athletic Conference.

Utah Tech’s Tanner Christensen powers against Utah Valley in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, Feb. 2, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Utah Valley University claimed the Old Hammer after beating Utah Tech 76-69 Thursday night in front of the largest and loudest crowd at Burns Arena so far this year.

The in-state rivals traded punches throughout the night in a well-contested affair.

According to a press release, Utah Tech took a 33-29 lead into halftime.

Dancell Leter’s huge block keyed the first-half surge, leading to a 3-pointer and a coast-to-coast lay-in from Cameron Gooden as the home team held all the momentum at the intermission.

But the Wolverines, who moved into first place in the WAC by half a game after the win, clawed their way back in the second half behind Le’Tre Darthard and his game-high 26 points.

UVU big man Aziz Bandaogo was a force for the visitors, tallying 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for a double-double.

Utah Tech cut into the lead a couple of times down the stretch but the Wolverines were too much to handle.

Gooden led four Trailblazers in double-digit scoring with his 15 points. Noa Gonsalves scored 14 points including four 3-pointers.

Frank Staine contributed 11 points for Utah Tech and Jacob Nicolds shot 5-for-7 from the floor and netted 10 points in the setback.

UVU improved to 18-6 overall and 9-2 in conference play. Utah Tech slipped to 10-13 overall, 2-8 in the WAC. The Trailblazers host another in-state rival, Southern Utah University, at Burns Arena Saturday night at 7 p.m.

The T-Birds are right behind the Wolverines at 8-2 in the WAC.

UTRGV 69, Utah Tech 65

The Utah Tech women suffered a heartbreaker on the road, losing by four at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The Trailblazers slipped to 5-5 in WAC play while the Vaqueros won just their second conference game of the season.

According to a press release, Amber Kartchner led Utah Tech with 20 points including three 3-pointers. Taylia Simpson and Breaunna Gillen scored 10 points apiece in the setback.

Utah Tech was outrebounded by the home team 54-36.

“Another tough night on the glass. I’m super disappointed with our rebound discipline, it seems I’m doing a terrible job coaching it,” Utah Tech coach JD Gustin said in the press release.

“It’s been our primary focus for two weeks and it was pathetic tonight. We have zero chance to win another WAC game with that type of intent to rebound,” he added. “Credit to UTRGV, they gave a great effort and made big plays when they needed to.”

Utah Tech plays Saturday afternoon in a matinee matchup at University of Texas Arlington.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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