Utah's long-range accuracy dooms Central Arkansas

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th November, 01:07 2024

Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith watches the game from the sidelines Tuesday, April 2, 2024, during the NIT semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana State Sycamores defeated the Utah Utes, 100-90.

Gabe Madsen scored 25 points to lead Utah to a 98-63 home victory over Central Arkansas on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.

Madsen drained six 3-pointers for the second straight game. Utah (2-0) finished with a school-record-tying 19 3-pointers on a record 50 attempts.

The senior hit 9 of 16 shots from the floor and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career (1,015 points).

Mason Madsen, Gabe's twin, added five 3-pointers and 15 points for the second straight game, and Mike Sharavjamts flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists along with three steals. Ezra Ausar also scored 13.

Keanu Dawes hauled in 11 rebounds to go with five assists, seven points and two blocks off the bench, while Jake Wahlin totaled nine points, six steals and four swats.

For Central Arkansas (0-2), Layne Taylor scored 15 points and Brayden Fagbemi had 13.

The Bears shot 31.3 percent from the field. It was their second loss in three days to a Big 12 team in the Beehive State after falling at BYU in the season-opener on Tuesday.

Utah held Central Arkansas to four points in the first seven minutes while taking a 16-4 lead on a Sharavjamts 3-pointer.

Mason Madsen's 3-pointer capped a 12-2 run, giving the Utes a 31-10 cushion with 8:14 to go in the first half.

Moments later, the Utes grasped a 29-point lead after an 11-0 surge.

Utah shot 46.2 percent from the field, dished out 23 assists on 30 made baskets and outrebounded Central Arkansas 51-35.

After holding the Bears to just 18 points in the first half, the Utes used a 14-0 run early in the second half to put the game away. Utah's largest lead was 41.

--Field Level Media