Utah Tech basketball: Texas 2-step leaves men’s team looking for answers, women moving on

Written by E. George Goold
March 2, 2024

ST. GEORGE — The Abilene Christian University basketball teams were not kind to their counterparts from Utah Tech University on Saturday.

Utah Tech’s Tennessee Rainwater battles against Abilene Christian in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The Trailblazers men’s squad lost its fifth game in a row, falling to the Wildcats 86-79 at Burns Arena and all but mathematically dropping out of the race to make the Western Athletic Conference postseason tournament in mid-March.

It was another home heartbreaker for Utah Tech, which turned the ball over 18 times in the loss. The Trailblazers led 48-46 with 15 minutes to go in the second half, but after that the Wildcats sealed the deal with a balanced offensive attack.

All five starters for ACU scored double-digits, led by Leonardo Bettiol’s 23 points. Ali Abdou Dibba tossed in 17 and Hunter Jack Madden made two 3-pointers and finished with 12 for the winners.

Meanwhile Noa Gonsalves was leader for the Trailblazers, scoring 21 points. Tanner Christensen and Beon Riley scored 15 points apiece and Riley grabbed 10 boards for a double-double in the setback.

The loss dropped Utah Tech to 6-12 in the Western Athletic Conference and 10-19 overall for the season.

Utah Tech’s Aric Demings against Abilene Christian in a WAC men’s basketball game, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

With the Trailblazers two games behind Cal Baptist for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WAC postseason tournament, Utah Tech must win its last two games next week to have the remotest chance of making the conference dance.

The Trailblazers have lost their last nine consecutive games on the road.

Meanwhile, in Abilene, Texas on Saturday afternoon, the Utah Tech women faced a similar treatment from the Wildcats and lost 74-62.

All-time Utah Tech leading scorer Breaunna Gillen led all shooters in the contest with 25 points. Maddie Warren was next for the Trailblazers with 16 points and Maggie McCord scored eight in the loss.

Utah Tech was held to 5-of-29 3-pointers in the loss.

Just like their men’s team, all five of ACU’s starters scored in double-digits in the win. Payton Hull had 16 and Zoe Jackson scored 14 to pace the winners.

Utah Tech slipped to 10-8 in the WAC standings and is 16-13 overall. The Trailblazers finish their regular season with two games next week in Burns Arena and are already guaranteed a spot in the conference postseason tournament.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, 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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