ST. GEORGE — The Trailblazers lost in their season finale at Burns Arena but will go on to make program history at the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
Grand Canyon defeated a cold shooting Utah Tech team 81-71 Friday night in both teams’ last WAC regular season game.
The Trailblazers had hoped to keep the momentum going after a lopsided 93-56 home win over Seattle University Wednesday night, but it was the visiting Antelopes who head to the WAC tournament on a hot streak after a 2-0 swing through Utah.
Saturday morning the Trailblazers learned that they earned the 11th seed in the 2023 Hercules Tires WAC Men’s Basketball Tournament, to be played in Las Vegas on March 7-11.
The so-called WAC Vegas event marks Utah Tech’s first-ever appearance in an NCAA conference postseason tournament.
Also appearing will be Interstate 15 rival Southern Utah University. The T-Birds had a historic win of their own Friday night, beating California Baptist 81-71 to lock up the No. 3 seed at WAC Vegas and earn a bye until the quarterfinal round, March 9.
Sam Houston (25-5) earned the top seed at WAC Vegas and WAC regular-season champion Utah Valley (24-7) is No. 2. SUU (20-11) is third and Seattle University (20-11) is the No. 4 seed and last to qualify for a first round bye.
Utah Tech (13-18) will make its WAC Vegas debut against No. 6 seed Stephen F. Austin (19-12) in the final game of the opening round Tuesday, March 7 at 8 p.m. (PT)
The Lumberjacks beat Utah Tech 85-72 at Burns Arena on Jan. 18 in the one previous matchup between the squads.
The first round of the WAC men’s basketball (Tuesday, March 7) tournament will be played inside the Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Meanwhile, the quarterfinals (Thursday, March 9), semifinals (Friday, March 10), and conference championship game (Saturday, March 11) will be played at the Orleans Arena.
All preliminary round games of the 2023 Hercules Tires WAC Men’s Basketball Tournament will air live on ESPN+, with the men’s championship game to be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. (PT)
Tuesday’s tournament first round will feature four games, beginning with No. 8 seed California Baptist (16-15) taking on No. 9 seed Abilene Christian (13-16) at 12 noon (PT), followed by No. 5 seed Grand Canyon (20-11) squaring off against No. 12 seed UT Arlington (11-19) at 2 p.m. (PT).
Session two will see No. 7 seed Tarleton (16-15) play No. 10 seed UTRGV (15-16) at 6 p.m. (PT), with the Utah Tech/SFA game serving as the nightcap at 8 p.m. (PT).
St. George News will provide coverage of WAC Vegas and Utah Tech games will stream live at The Fan Sports Network.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech senior Cameron Gooden plays in his last game at Burns Arena, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Senior Cameron Gooden hits a shot against Grand Canyon in his final game at Burns Arena. He finished with 1,051 career points, 7th all-time at Utah Tech, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech senior Jacob Nicolds goes up for two against Grand Canyon in his last game at Burns Arena, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech's Isaiah Pope looks for an opening against the Grand Canyon defense in his final game at Burns Arena, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Senior Frank Staine handles the ball in his last game at Burns Arena. Staine posted 92 career starts at Utah Tech, a program record. St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech's Isaiah Pope falls to the floor after Grand Canyon's Walter Ellis (55) gets a loose ball in a WAC basketball game, St. George, Utah, March 3, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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