TAKEAWAYS: Runnin’ Utes Fall to St. John’s

The Runnin’ Utes wrapped up their run in the Charleston Classic competition against the St. John’s Red Storm, led by Rick Pitino. The two teams battled it out for third place in the in-season tournament. Utah found themselves trailing 19-7 midway through the first. Despite a quick offensive surge out of the gate in the second half, the Utes couldn’t slow down St. John’s offense, ultimately falling 91-82. Here are the key points from the game.

Impacts of Crucial Turnovers on Utes

The Runnin’ Utes struggled against St. John’s defensive pressure, causing them to lose their momentum and commit turnovers in critical moments. With 10:42 in the second half, Daniss Jenkins stole the ball and made a quick layup to extend their lead to 68-60. Utah was outscored in fast-break points 16-5 and out-rebounded 42-32.

Strong Start to Second Half Falls Short

Utah started the second half strong by going on a 7-0 run, bringing them within 2 points. Cole Bajema’s layup gave the Utes their first lead since the beginning of the game at 54-52. Despite the effort, St. John’s managed to extend their lead, ultimately building a comfortable 17-point lead with 4:18 left to play.

Brandon Carlson led the Utes with 22 points and eight rebounds in the game. Cole Bajema added 13 points and three steals, Rollie Worster tallied 12 points and five steals, while Gabe Madsen contributed 11 points and five rebounds.

St. John’s Perseverance

Utah briefly led early in the first half, but the Red Storm quickly took control, going on a 14-0 run and never trailing in the first half, leading to a 52-43 advantage heading into halftime. St. John’s offense was relentless, with four out of the five starters scoring in double digits.

Up Next

With a season record of 3-2, the Utes will resume play on Monday, November 27th on the road against St. Mary’s, who currently has a record of 2-3.