NCAAB Game Recap - Arizona at Utah
Thu Feb 14, 2019 9:00 PM EST

Gonz
73
LoyMa
60
F
Hou
71
UConn
63
F
Kent
82
W MI
63
F
StFPA
87
FaDi
62
F
E IL
79
SIU-E
65
F
Rice
65
FIU
86
F
Tuls
80
Tul
57
F
Del
78
Tows
71
F(2OT)
NE
81
UNCW
77
F
GrCan
75
UMKC
87
F(OT)
Drex
69
JMU
71
F
IUPUI
73
YSU
75
F
VMI
84
Woff
95
F
CenCT
57
Merrim
63
F
LIU
76
StFNY
83
F
Ill
63
OhSt
56
F
N TX
47
FAU
57
F
IL-C
81
Clev
77
F
Hof
99
Charl
95
F
SacHr
105
Bry
104
F
Mercer
74
WCU
65
F
RobM
62
MtStM
76
F
Citad
83
ETSU
91
F
UNCG
57
Furm
67
F
TexAr
52
ArkLR
56
F
UTEP
57
LaTec
71
F
E KY
72
MorSt
78
F
Belm
77
TNSt
66
F
Seatt
44
UTRGV
59
F
ORU
73
NDSU
85
F
SDSt
84
NebOm
85
F
Oakl
54
WIGB
66
F
TxSt
84
ArkSt
74
F
Detr
90
WIMil
84
F
MTSU
63
W Ky
71
F
UTSA
71
USM
78
F
UAB
77
Marsh
68
F
CSBak
75
ChiSt
62
F
Ariz
76
Utah
83
F
UtVal
77
NMSt
84
F
Mont
83
Web
80
F
IPFW
94
Denv
81
F
Murr
73
APSU
71
F
MTSt
84
IdaSt
76
F
SEMO
72
TN-M
81
F
JSU
67
TNTec
57
F
UCSB
57
UCRiv
71
F
Pepp
77
USF
89
F
BYU
88
USD
82
F(OT)
N CO
75
Ida
47
F
NoAZ
94
PorSt
103
F
S UT
73
Sac
84
F
StMar
66
SCla
55
F
CAPoly
54
HI
75
F

Utah 83, Arizona 76

Feb 14, 2019, 9:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Arizona

32

44

76

Utah

31

52

83

Van Dyke's career-high 23 carries Utah over Arizona, 83-76
Fri Feb 15, 2019 12:35 AM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Parker Van Dyke may not start but he picked up right where he left off.

One game after capping a 23-point second-half comeback with a buzzer-beater at UCLA, Van Dyke made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 23 points and Jayce Johnson also set a career-best with 17 points to help Utah beat Arizona 83-76 on Thursday night.

"A little magic came home with me from Westwood," Van Dyke said. "It was a really fun game and it was great to get a win against Arizona - that's my first one as a Ute."

Van Dyke is a senior but has become a reserve the last three games. Once he got on the court, he made five 3s in a row to help the Utes keep pace in the first half.

"I thought there was something off with my eyes" as the hoop looked so big, Van Dyke joked. "The shot is feeling good. I have a good rhythm and good confidence and my teammates are doing a great job getting me open and getting me shots."

Sedrick Barefield had 15 points and six assists and Timmy Allen scored 14 for the Utes (14-10 overall, 8-4 Pac-12), who have won three in a row and are in second place in the conference. But the story of this victory was the offense of Van Dyke and Johnson, who both average seven points a game.

Dylan Smith scored a season-high 16 points and Ryan Luther had 14 for the Wildcats (14-11, 5-7), who have lost six in a row for the first time since former coach Lute Olson's first season at Arizona in 1983-84.

The Wildcats got within five points in the final minute but Both Gach made four straight free throws in the final 13 seconds to clinch the win.

Neither team led by more than Arizona's 32-26 margin in the first half until Utah went on a 18-2 run in the second half, sparked by Van Dyke's shooting and Johnson's strong play at the rim.

"Parker was on fire," Barefield said. "And Jayce, I'm not surprised. He's one of our hardest workers ... and he just got it going. He just continues to get better and better."

Johnson's follow basket with 7:03 to play gave Utah a 66-51 lead. Utah's center barely touched the ball on offense in the first half but dominated the paint in the second half, scoring all of his points.

"I was just playing hard and a lot of my points were off offensive rebounds and passes from Sedrick on my rolls," said Johnson, who added 10 rebounds and marked the fifth straight game he has notched double figures on the boards.

Utah didn't score during the first four minutes of the game, until just after Van Dyke checked into the game and hit a shot from the corner.

The Wildcats are 13-2 against Utah since Sean Miller became the head coach at Arizona. The Wildcats outlasted Utah 84-81 in overtime on Jan. 5. Ten of those contests have been decided by single digits.

"They're hitting on all cylinders," Miller said of Utah. "Often times, you judge the November and December by who you beat and what you did. Utah is one of those teams in college basketball that they're better now than they were then."

BIG PICTURE

Arizona: Except for Utah's big run, the Wildcats stymied Utah's offense but looked helpless during the onslaught. Wins that used to come so easy are now difficult as the team has lost confidence, especially on the offensive end. Arizona's goal of getting a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament is fleeting now, especially with surging Colorado looming on Sunday.

Utah: The Utes usually struggle if Barefield isn't playing well but Van Dyke's sharpshooting and Johnson's unexpected big scoring half got Utah back on track at home where they had lost four of their last six games. With more offensive weapons, the Utes are much tougher to stop but it all starts on defense. When they can't guard, their offensive flow falters.

THE SEVEN-FOOTER IS GROWING UP

In addition to the 17-point second-half explosion, Johnson is just a couple of points away from having five straight double-doubles.

"The word `process' is pasted all over our practice facility," Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said of Johnson's improvement. "Of all the people I've coached, he's one the guys who most wants to do the right thing and will do whatever we ask. He's a warrior."

Johnson has overcome several leg and foot injuries in his time at Utah but the junior is "reaping some of the benefits of perseverance and he's undoubtedly getting better right before our eyes. Nobody plays harder," Krystkowiak said.

SLIP, SLIDING AWAY

Krystkowiak commiserated with Miller before the game about how lonely it can seem as a coach when things aren't going well on or off the court. With outside investigations looming and Brandon Williams still injured, things may get worse before they get better.

"We don't want to lose our seventh in a row, but is it is a possibility. For us, it is controlling the things that we can control," Miller said.

Players have switched from expecting to win every game to just doing their best.

"We're just focusing on getting better, sticking with each other, and playing hard every time we step out on the court. We want to give it our all," said Alex Barcello, who had 12 points.

UP NEXT

Arizona continues its mountain swing at Colorado on Sunday.

Utah hosts Arizona State on Saturday.

--

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Arizona PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Smith 16 0 0 3 0 0
R. Luther 14 0 0 3 2 1
Utah PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
P. Van Dyke 23 0 1 1 1 0
J. Johnson 17 0 0 10 1 1

Team Comparison

Ariz Utah
Points For 76 83
Field Goals 28/62-45% 26/52-50%
Three Pointers 8/24-33% 10/24-42%
Free Throws 12/18-67% 21/28-75%
Offensive Rebounds 9 5
Defensive Rebounds 26 28
Rebounds 40 36
Blocks 1 4
Steals 5 4
Turnovers 7 10
Personal Fouls 25 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Series Tied 1-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sat Jan 5 Utah 81 @ Ariz 84 S. Barefield 26 B. Randolph 21
Thu Feb 14 Ariz 76 @ Utah 83 D. Smith 16 P. Van Dyke 23

Game Information

Stadium: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Attendance: 11,478
Game Time: