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No. 17 Utes race away for 80-56 win over Cardinal

Posted March 12, 2015 11:00 pm

By JOHN MARSHALL

Utah's Delon Wright, right, celebrates after scoring a 3-point shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Las Vegas. Stanford's Rosco Allen is at left. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Delon Wright scored 20 points, Jordan Loveridge added 18 and No. 17 Utah ran away from Stanford in the second half for an 80-56 victory in the Pac-12 quarterfinals Thursday night.

Utah (24-7) had a few offensive problems in the first half, but found a rhythm in the second.

The third-seeded Utes hit 14 of 28 shots in the second half and were 12 of 19 from 3-point range overall to earn a spot in Friday's semifinals against second-seeded Oregon.

Utah also turned up the defensive pressure in the final 20 minutes, holding the Cardinal to 6 of 24 shooting. Jakob Poeltl added 16 points for the Utes.

Stanford (19-13) pulled off an upset in the opening round, but faded against the fresher Utes in the second half.

Chasson Randle had 22 points and Stefan Nastic added 11 for the Cardinal, who scored 17 second-half points.

Utah doesn't have to worry about the NCAA Tournament, but would like to at least go in with a little momentum after losing three of its final five games.

Stanford's only shot was to win the Pac-12 tournament and the Cardinal took the first step by knocking off Washington 71-69 on a last-second 3-pointer by Randle.

The Utes won the lone meeting between these teams by 16 on Feb. 12 after holding Randle to 10 points.

Randle was feeling good early against the Utes in the rematch, at one point pulling up for a long 3-pointer in transition. He had 12 points and Nastic 11, helping the Cardinal build a 39-34 lead.

Utah has struggled with shooting lately and had trouble at times against Stanford's zone in the first half. The Utes still managed to make 13 of 26 shots, with Wright and Loveridge scoring 10 points each.

Utah turned the tables to start the second half, making three of its first four shots while turning up the defensive pressure on the Cardinal.

The Utes went on an 11-2 run to go up 45-41, then Isaiah Wright and Loveridge hit consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to seven.

Randle tried to keep Stanford in it with his shooting, but Utah kept making shots, going up 67-49 on consecutive 3-pointers by Delon Wright and Loveridge.

TIP INS

Stanford: Randle was called for a flagrant foul for taking down Poeltl in transition midway through the second half.

Utah: The Utes made 8 of 12 3-pointers in the second half and 14 of 18 free throws overall.

UP NEXT

Stanford: will wait to see if it makes a postseason tournament.

Utah: will face Oregon in the semifinals Friday night.

Stanford's Chasson Randle, center, has his path squeezed by Utah's Delon Wright, left, and Dallin Bachynski during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

Stanford's Chasson Randle, right, drives into Utah's Brandon Taylor (11) and Utah's Isaiah Wright (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

Stanford's Marcus Allen goes in for a layup against Utah in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak motions to his players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Stanford in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The Associated Press

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