SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Tech opened up WAC play with a convincing 81-66 win over visiting Texas-Rio Grande Valley in St. George.
Utah Tech (9-5, 1-0) hosted the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (8-5, 0-1) at Burns Arena in St. George, UT on Thursday, December 29. This was the Western Athletic Conference opener for each team.
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The Trailblazers ride a season-high five-game winning streak into this matchup after thrashing Lindenwood 95-64.
The Vaqueros have won three straight. Their last win came at the expense of Houston Christian by a 100-90 score.
Isaiah Pope scored 20 points to lead the Trailblazers. Jacob Nicolds added 18 and Tanner Christensen scored 10.
Will Johnston led all scorers with 24 points in the loss.
First Half
The Trailblazers came out of the locker room fast by scoring the games first five points.
UTRGV survived the early run, tying the score at nine apiece on a Justin Johnson layup.
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After a timeout, Utah Tech went on a 9-0 run, opening up their lead to 18-9.
Trailblazers out on the break – Isaiah Pope feeds Tanner Christensen for the easy bucket as Utah Tech is on a 15-4 run to push the lead to double digits!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/wXagoH90GI
— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 30, 2022
Two baskets from the Vaqueros couldn’t slow the Trailblazers as their lead expanded to double-digits with a 15-4 run when Tanner Christensen hit a layup.
UTRGV used back-to-back Will Johnston threes to get within five but Isaiah Pope responded on the other end with a three of his own.
Later in the half with the Vaqueros within a possession, Cameron Gooden found Noa Gonsalves for a corner three.
Cameron Gooden kicks it to Noa Gonsalves for a #MACU 3-pointer to make it a two-possession game late in the first half.#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/LNs2eZXaKb
— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 30, 2022
The Trailblazers rode the momentum of the Gonsalves three to a 39-31 halftime advantage.
Jacob Nickolds led Utah Tech with 11 points. Gooden chipped in seven points and had five assists in the opening half.
Johnston led the Vaqueros with 10 points.
Second Half
Both teams traded baskets for the opening minutes of the second half as the Trailblazers maintained a lead.
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Nickolds gave Utah Tech their biggest lead of the night, 48-35, on a three with 16:24 left.
Jacob Nicolds is en fuego – 5-of-5 from the floor including this #MACU 3-pointer to push the Blazer lead to 13 early in the second half!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/R0Uiz6V8C9
— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 30, 2022
Later in the half, Frank Staine connected with Trey Edmonds for a lay-in that put the Trailblazers ahead by 16.
Frank Staine with the lob to Trey Edmonds, who lays in the easy two to give the Blazers their biggest lead of the game!#UtahTechBlazers | #WACmbb | #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/TFHgpuZOH6
— Utah Tech Men’s Basketball (@UtahTechMBB) December 30, 2022
The Vaqueros wouldn’t get within less than 12 the rest of the way as Utah Tech cruised to an 81-66 win.
Up Next
The Trailblazers travel north to Orem, UT where they will take on the Utah Valley Wolverines (10-4, 1-0). This game will be played at the UCCU Center on Saturday, December 31. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm (MST).
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