No. 24 Utah rolls over Delaware State 105-58
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The 24th-ranked Utes were riding high after an upset win over then-No. 7 ranked Duke and Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak didn't want a letdown against a winless Delaware State team.
No need to worry.
Jordan Loveridge scored 14 points as No. 24 Utah romped past Delaware State 105-58.
''Guys are already thinking about Christmas and I didn't want to disrespect the game,'' Krystkowiak said. ''I talk about respecting the game. That, to me, is respect for the game and trying to play it the right way, and that encapsulates a little bit the idea of not having a letdown.
''Shame on us when you get 30-something games to play if you come out and you're not where you need to be,'' he said. ''That's not what we're about.''
The Utes (10-2) led from start to finish in the lopsided meeting. Loveridge hit a triple from the left wing to cap a 12-0 run and give Utah a 31-13 lead just over 10 minutes into the game. The Utes used another burst in an 18-5 run to go up 52-25 shortly before halftime.
The wealth was spread around as all 10 players that saw time in the first half scored. Utah had 15 assists on 18 first-half baskets. Kyle Kuzma scored 15 and Lorenzo Bonam added 12.
Delaware State simply didn't have the talent to match a Utah team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last March and beat then-7th ranked Duke on Saturday. Devin Morgan led DSU with 14 points.
''We have to be more concerned with what we do on the floor,'' Delaware State coach Keith Walker said. ''A lot of times we play these teams that are in the Top 25. We know we may be outmanned in certain areas and in certain games. But I want the guys to execute what we do on the floor.
''If we do a decent job of executing what we want to do, then we can be in ballgames,'' he said.
Utah set season highs in points, 3-pointers (12), bench points (50) and tied a season best with 30 assists.
The Hornets entered the night as one of four winless Division I teams in the country, according to STATS.
Utah has held its last three opponents to less than 33 percent shooting from the floor.
''I thought it was a great game, especially for us guys coming off the bench,'' Utah forward Chris Reyes said. ''Our starters started off really well for us and got that big lead and gave us an opportunity.''
TIP-INS
Delaware State: Entered the game allowing 75.5 points per game to rank No. 251 in the country. ... The Hornets have lost by 20 or more in 7 of 12 games this season. ... Delaware State was outrebounded 48-23.
Utah: The Utes are 6-0 all-time against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams. ... Utah returned to the Top 25 this week after beating Duke in overtime Saturday. ... Poeltl, a two-time Pac-12 player of the week this season, didn't score his first points until the 4:01 mark of the first half. He finished with six points.
POTENTIAL
Gabe Bealer entered the game averaging 4.5 points in just six games, but the junior college transfer showed the potential Krystkowiak talked about before the season. On back-to-back plays the 6-foot-6, 183-pounder had a thunderous breakaway dunk and then knocked down a triple from the corner. He finished with nine, three shy of his career-high.
QUOTABLE
''Everybody has to stay motivated and stay with the program,'' Morgan said of the 0-12 start. ''Our conference is coming up. That's our main focus. Our main focus is making sure we win our conference. As long as everybody stays with the program, and stays together as a team, I think we'll be fine.''
UP NEXT
Delaware State: travels to face Texas Christian on Monday.
Utah: hosts College of Idaho on Sunday.
