Hunter Erickson's career-high 18-point effort leads Utah past Radford

Hunter Erickson scored a career-high 18 points to help Utah cruise to an 81-63 victory over Radford on Saturday night at Salt Lake City.

Gabe Madsen had 15 points and seven assists despite his 5-of-17 shooting line and Lawson Lovering added 12 points, four blocked shots and three steals for the Utes (7-2). Erickson also made a career-best four 3-pointers.

Jarvis Moss made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points for Radford, which had a five-game winning streak halted. Brandon Maclin added 15 points and three steals for the Highlanders (9-3).

Utah shot 46.7 percent from the field, including 10 of 28 from 3-point range.

Radford made 41.1 percent of its shots and was 7 of 23 from behind the arc.

Utah led by nine at the break and quickly pushed the advantage to 55-36 with 16:05 left. Madsen buried a 3-pointer and followed with a dunk to end a 7-0 burst.

A short time later, the Highlanders scored eight points in a row to pull within 57-46 with 10:21 left.

But Erickson scored five points and Mason Madsen buried a trey in a 10-2 push as the Utes lef by 19 again with 7:52 left.

The Utah lead topped out at 21 points.

Erickson scored 11 first-half points to help the Utes hold a 40-31 halftime advantage. Moss had 13 in the first half for Radford.

Utah created an early 22-7 lead behind a 16-2 run. Erickson made two 3-pointers during the push and twin brothers Mason and Gabe Madsen made one apiece.

The Utes later led 26-12 after a dunk from Caleb Lohner, playing his second game with the basketball team after being a tight end on Utah's football squad.

Moss kept the Highlanders in the game and his 3-pointer pulled Radford within 27-24 with 7:10 left in the half.

Utah again moved ahead by double digits at 11 on Lohner's basket with 40 seconds remaining until halftime before Moss scored the final basket to bring the Highlanders within nine.

--Field Level Media