California @ Utah preview
Jon M. Huntsman Center
Last Meeting ( Jan 26, 2019 ) Utah 82, California 64
California came up short Thursday in its continuing quest for its first road win of the season. The Golden Bears will give it another shot Saturday night when they visit Utah to close out their two-game mountain road trip.
The task will be tough as the Runnin’ Utes are 9-1 at home this season, including a 4-1 record in Pac-12 Conference play. Utah’s most recent home win required some extra effort Thursday as the Utes outdueled visiting Stanford 64-56 in overtime behind a career night (15 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots) from 7-foot freshman Branden Carlson. Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the Rockies on Thursday, Cal fell to 0-6 on the road – and 0-9 away from home in all when including a 0-3 neutral-site record – with a 71-65 loss at No. 24 Colorado. The Bears and Buffaloes were deadlocked at 28 at halftime, and the game was close throughout until the hosts took control with a 13-6 run late in the second half.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: Pac-12 Network
ABOUT CALIFORNIA (10-12, 4-5 Pac-12): The Bears are now 0-4 in conference road games, but Thursday’s six-point loss was easily the closest yet for first-year coach Mark Fox’s squad. Guards Matt Bradley (17) and Paris Austin (15) combined for nearly half of Cal’s 65 points as the Bears shot a Pac-12 game-high 55.6 percent as a team, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range. Bradley (17.8 points per game) and backcourt mate Kareem South (9.5) are the leading scorers for the Bears, who are averaging a Pac-12-worst 63.5 points per outing, including a 60.0 average in conference play.
ABOUT UTAH (13-9, 4-6): The Utes are the Pac-12’s next-lowest scoring team in conference play, averaging 65.4 points. And even while winning Thursday, it was a struggle throughout as Utah shot 36.8 percent and had 18 turnovers but was able to take full advantage of a favorable 18-10 foul count by racking up a 16-4 advantage at the free-throw line in the eight-point win. Forward Timmy Allen (18.3 points) and guards Rylan Jones (10.9) and Both Gach (10.6) are averaging double figures, but Allen – once ranking as the Pac-12’s leading scorer – hasn’t scored more than 18 in his last eight games and Gach has missed the last three games with a knee injury of unspecified severity.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Utah has won eight of the last 11 head-to-head meetings, including 82-64 (road) and 77-43 (home) victories a season ago.
2. The Bears remain a Pac-12 win away from matching their combined conference victory total of five for the previous two seasons.
3. The Utes’ only home loss this season came Jan. 4 as they dropped their Pac-12 opener to No. 15 Oregon, 69-64.
PREDICTION: Utah 71, California 66