David Collette scored a game-high 17 points as Utah took down Missouri, 77-59, Thursday night at the Huntsman Center.
The Utes (3-0) got their best win of the season after victories over Prairie View and Mississippi Valley State to start the year.
Big Dave!??? #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/tLQO7XKRTV
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 17, 2017
The Utes led from start to finish and ran away from the Tigers in a contest that was never really all that close. Missouri struggled mightily on offense as the Tigers started the game just 2-of-17 from the field and did not hit its first 3-pointer of the game until there were two minutes left in the first half.
The 59 points were also a season low for the Tigers who came in averaging nearly 87 points per game, including an impressive double-digit win over Iowa State.
“Sometimes when shots aren’t falling, it affects our other end of the floor. We did a good job sticking to our defense,” said Utah forward Tyler Rawson.
.@UtahMBB has already hit 3 trifectas in the 2nd half. ??? #Pac12Hoops
Watch: https://t.co/YfMNDWtSGW pic.twitter.com/HUNsEjJTZI
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 17, 2017
Missouri was without the services of star freshman forward Michael Porter, Jr., who suffered a leg injury in the first game of the season. The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder was a preseason All-American and was arguably one of the top recruits in the nation coming out of high school.
Kassius Robertson led Missouri with 12 points and Kevin Puryear chipped in with 11. No other Tiger player managed to score in double-figures thanks to the stifling defense from the Runnin’ Utes.
Utah senior forward Tyler Rawson added 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Freshman forward Donnie Tillman had 11 points, sophomore center Jayce Johnson added 10 points and senior Gabe Bealer also chipped in with 10 points in a balanced scoring attack by the Utes. Tillman also recorded his first collegiate double-double in the win as the freshman added 10 rebounds.
Notes: According to ESPN, 22 scouts were scheduled to come to the game, in large part because of Porter. Four did not show up after finding out that Porter was not going to be there. With the win, the Runnin’ Utes now travel to Las Vegas to play in the MGM Grand Main Event tournament against Ole Miss on Monday.
