Utah is headed to New York City.
Despite playing on the road and without senior David Collette in the second half, the Runnin’ Utes took down top-seeded Saint Mary’s with a 67-58 victory in overtime. Utah became the second team — along with Gonzaga — to defeat Saint Mary’s on its home court this season.
Collette, Utah’s second leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, scored just eight points and played 14 minutes due to a back injury. But other players stepped up as Sedrick Barefield and Gabe Bealer knocked down big shots in regulation as the Utes finished regulation on a 10-1 run to force overtime. Utah kept it going in extra time as they outscored the Gaels 13-4 to cruise to victory.
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With the win, the Runnin’ Utes advance to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Final Four at Madison Square Garden. Second-seeded Utah will take on fourth-seeded Western Kentucky on Tuesday.
Utes senior forward Tyler Rawson scored 17 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Barefield scored a team-high 19 points, and both he and Rawson combined to make five 3-pointers apiece.
Here’s how fans, coaches and players reacted on Twitter:
WE GOING TO NYC!!!! #GoUtes #NIT pic.twitter.com/j7KIU5ACoM
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 22, 2018
Tonight @UtahMBB hands St. Mary's only its second loss at home all season. The other loss came to current Sweet 16 squad Gonzaga. #goutes pic.twitter.com/Zc4gtRUt0a
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) March 22, 2018
LOSER HAS TO PUSH THE BLEACHERS BACK IN!!!!
— THE MightyAlaskanUte (@MightyAlaskaUte) March 22, 2018
Onto NYC! Thanks for taking me through it @espn700bill and @jimmysoto15. It’s 4:18 a.m. here in Northern Ireland and I won’t be able to fall asleep easily…. Great work @UtahMBB! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/XC7LUdLAUx
— Chandler Wride (@ChandlerAtTheU) March 22, 2018
The Runnin’ Utes are headed to New York City!?#GoUtes!
— University of Utah (@UUtah) March 22, 2018
Man couldn’t be more proud of this team! New York here we come ? #GoUtes
— Justin Bibbins (@jbibbs21) March 22, 2018
Yes, Runnin' Utes. Yes! #GoUtes
— Jamal Anderson (@jamthedirtybird) March 22, 2018
#GoUtes yeaaaaaaaa New York bound pic.twitter.com/r3tdNENYhz
— kuz (@kylekuzma) March 22, 2018
GO UTES!! Going to #MSG! @utahathletics
— Jack Tuttle (@jacktuttle14) March 22, 2018
This didn’t age well https://t.co/gA9D3Trfqu
— This Justin ? (@thiz_justin) March 22, 2018
The NIT and St. Mary's failed to secure any hotel rooms for Utah so the Team stayed in an Air B&B in Berkeley. #Utes
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) March 21, 2018
UTAH WINS!!!!!
67-58 and they are NEW YORK Bound!!!
It's a Great Night to be a UTE in Northern California!#Utes @UtahMBB— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) March 22, 2018
