ST. GEORGE — The Utah Tech men’s basketball team has reason to rejoice over the holidays.
The Trailblazers (8-5) slayed the Lindenwood Lions 95-64 Thursday afternoon at Burns Arena. It was Utah Tech’s fifth consecutive win and fourth victory in a row at home.
Utah Tech junior Isaiah Pope scored a career-high 25 points including a 4-of-7 clip from 3-point land.
“I didn’t shoot very well last game, I feel like, and so I really to wanted focus today on coming in serious and taking this team serious,” Pope told St. George News after his career game.
“I started out making my first four, I think,” Pope added. “At that point every basketball player, you make your first shots, you know it could be a game.”
According to a Utah Tech press release, senior Cameron Gooden scored in double digits (13 points) for his team-leading 11th time in 13 starts this season.
“We’re moving in the right direction. We’re finally catching our stride, getting in better rhythm,” Gooden told St. George News. “There’s still some small things we can work on, but we’re finding our stride, just trusting each other, trusting our coaching staff with the plays and the game plan.”
Gooden also dished out a season-high seven assists, stole a ball and committed no turnovers.
The veteran Trailblazer from Frisco, Texas, has a career total of 844 points. He is within 14 points of cracking into Utah Tech’s top-10 career-best list.
He said that the motivation to put a stamp on his senior season is fueling his hot start to the season.
“I think that definitely plays a part in it,” Gooden said. “My aspiration is to continue to play on after college as well, so I think that’s a lot of it. And just the camaraderie of the team, them trusting me, it makes my job easier.”
The home team held an 11-10 edge to start the contest, then went on an 18-3 run for an early cushion.
The Blazers broke the game open with a 20-5 run to finish the first half, taking an insurmountable 52-24 into the break.
Sophomore Noa Gonsalves continued to have a hot hand for the Blazers, tying his career-best game with 19 points including his first five 3-point attempts.
Along with the 25 points, Pope posted a career-high tying five assists, three boards and one steal.
“My teammates were finding me, they kept getting me open and giving me some good passes so I had to knock it down,” Pope said. “And then, you know, when you’re feeling it you just got to keep going.”
Junior Frank Staine contributed 10 points and five rebounds for the winners, snagging a career-best five steals during his 15 minutes off the bench.
“I thought our defense was really good,” Utah Tech coach Jon Judkins said. “I think our zone really caused some problems for them, that’s how we got our lead. Then our man-to-man really picked up in the second half and we got a lot of turnovers.”
Utah Tech will wrap up its season-long five-game homestand with its Western Athletic Conference opener vs. the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley next Thursday night, Dec. 29. Tip-off inside the Burns Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech senior Jacob Nicolds (24) looks to score against Lindenwood, St. George, Utah, Dec. 22, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech senior Cameron Gooden looks to pass against Lindenwood, St. George, Utah, Dec. 22, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech senior Dancell Leter sinks a free throw against Lindenwood, St. George, Utah, Dec. 22, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech sophomore Trey Edmonds rebounds against Lindenwood, St. George, Utah, Dec. 22, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech freshman Asjon Anderson looks to pass against Lindenwood, St. George, Utah, Dec. 22, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Statistics courtesy of Utah Tech Athletics.
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