They simply couldn’t miss.
The Runnin’ Utes didn’t miss much of anything Monday night inside the Huntsman Center as Utah (21-11) easily took down LSU (18-15) with a 95-71 home victory in the second round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).
With the victory, the Utes will head to the NIT quarterfinals for the first time since 1992 and did so in style in front of Utah Jazz star guard and 2018 Slam Dunk Champion Donovan Mitchell.
Utah started the game on fire as the team finished the contest shooting nearly 58 percent from the field, including 14-of-29 from downtown.
Sedrick Barefield had a team-high 17 points as all five of Utah’s starters finished in double figures. Justin Bibbins added 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers, Gabe Bealer added 13 points, including three from beyond the arc and David Collette and Tyler Rawsom each chipped in with 12 points apiece.
Every time the LSU was on the verge of coming alive or going on a big run, the trio of Bibbins, Barefield and Bealer combined to hit 10-of-18 3-pointers.
Utes win with a final score of 95 to 71. Utes advance to the 3rd round of the #NIT and will face the winner of Saint Mary's vs Washington. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/iW1NYwUIwx
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 20, 2018
Freshman Tremont Waters had 19 points, eight assists and four steals for LSU (18-15). Skylar Mays added 16 points and senior Aaron Epps scored 12 in the loss for the Tigers.
Tigers’ seniors Aaron Epps, Randy Onwuasor and Duop Reath concluded their collegiate careers with 12, 10 and nine points respectively.
LSU, under first-year coach Will Wade, was attempting to win two games in the NIT for the first time since 1970.
With Saint Mary’s 85-81 win over Washington thanks to Jordan Ford’s 3-pointer with under a minute to go in the game, the Gaels won its its program-record 30th game of the season. The Runnin’ Utes will now travel to the Bay Area to take on the Gaels Wednesday night.
Here are some of the best reactions on Twitter from Monday’s game:
The Runnin’ Utes drop 95 on the Tigers of LSU and advance to the #Elite8 of the #NIT! #GoUtes! pic.twitter.com/VNxydjyt27
— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 20, 2018
Had to do a quick gif after the game. Chris Seeley's exclamation point on the win tonight. @seeley1998 #GoUtes #LSUvsUtah pic.twitter.com/Yimk0g9pIH
— Joel Davidson (@JoelD247) March 20, 2018
So much good karma for the #RunninUtes tonight! kUUzmania representing the UU ?? & @spidadmitchell supporting the U at the Hunty! No wonder the Utes offense was lit tonight!??? #GoUtes #NIT pic.twitter.com/lbR3NaCPtd
— NEZ? (@RedDevilUte_NEZ) March 20, 2018
Tonight’s game ???? #GoUtes @UtahMBB pic.twitter.com/o8gTM2SAf9
— Dan Lalli (@DanLalli) March 20, 2018
Twitter Hilariously Reacts As No. 16 UMBC Makes History In Win Over No. 1 Virginia
He's going to be a dominant force for the Utes next season…#GoUtes https://t.co/MakZKPZ1w1
— #VamosUtes (@COSam2) March 20, 2018
It’s over! #GoUtes! pic.twitter.com/vYPW4zmVLU
— Justin Williams (@UteColorado) March 20, 2018
SEC opponent, SWAC result. Light. That. U. #GoUtes #Blowout
— Dan Sorensen (@DSorensen) March 20, 2018
