Runnin' Utes hit program-tying 19 3-pointers in rout of visiting Central Arkansas

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SALT LAKE CITY — Craig Smith finally has the roster to fully embrace the Runnin' Utes nickname.

His team used a high-energy and aggressive first half of play to quickly put some distance on an outmatched Central Arkansas team, which trailed by 27 points at halftime. Utah's defense held Central Arkansas to 2-of-11 shooting in the closing minutes of the half and just 23% from the field.

But Utah wasn't done there.

Those Runnin' Utes extended the lead in the second half behind a 19-2 run over five minutes, and Utah went on to a 98-63 win over the Bears Thursday night.

"When you have skilled dudes and you play together, it's easy to get out and run; and, yeah, I think that's what we're going to just try to keep doing all year," Gabe Madsen said.

"Definitely just opens up the offense, like all around," added Keanu Dawes, who finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. "Obviously, we have a lot of great shooters on our team. Whenever guys are knocking down shots, it just makes basketball itself so much easier."

In back-to-back games to start the season, the shooting looked easy.

Madsen led the team in scoring for the second straight game with 25 points, including six made 3-pointers, and four rebounds in the win. With the effort, Madsen became the latest player at Utah (2-0) to cross the 1,000 career point threshold.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "I was reflecting just a little bit this morning on just like the journey of college basketball; obviously, it was a little bit weird to start, but I'm super thankful to have landed here at Utah. And I mean, it was never a doubt that I was coming back here. I love this program and what coach (Craig) Smith is all about. So, yeah, just super thankful to have done it here."

And for the second night this week, his twin, Mason Madsen, was right behind him with 15 points, all of which came from behind the 3-point line. The tandem combined for 11 on the team's 19 made 3-pointers on the night, which tied the school's all time record that was previously set Monday.

The two teams combined for 90 total 3-point attempts, with Utah shooting a school record 50 attempts on a 38% shooting night.

"I've never been a part of a game where there's 90 threes attempted," Smith said. "I mean, that we shoot 50 of our 65 (field goals), and, I think, in the first half 25 of our 32 shots from the three. Not necessarily by design, but we do have very good shooters on this team, and we had a lot of clean looks. ... Honestly, we didn't even shoot it great; we missed a lot of open looks."

"That's just what modern day basketball is going to, obviously," added Gabe Madsen. "I mean, you see it in the NBA — Boston Celtics preaching to shoot more threes. Analytically, it makes sense, but also, yeah, it just opens up things down low. And I think once we get some of our depth back at the five, that'll just help us."

Most impressive for the Utah, though, was its ability to share the ball well for the second game, which translated to all those makes from behind the 3-point line. Utah assisted on 23 of the team's 30 made shots, and still had more opportunities available.

For another night, Mike Sharavjamts was the biggest facilitator of the ball, finishing with eight assists, including an impressive no-look pass in the first half to a streaking Jake Wahlin to the basket for a quick 2 points, while adding 13 points and eight rebounds.

Central Arkansas (0-2) finished the night shooting just 31% from the field, with Layne Taylor leading the team with 15 points on just 4-of-13 shooting. Brayden Fagbemi added 13 points as the only other player to finish in double figures for the Bears.

Elias Cato, who managed 21 points on Tuesday against BYU, was held to just 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Utes. Smith credited sophomore forward Jake Wahlin for limiting Cato's production in the win.

Wahlin came up big for the Utes, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and finished with 9 points and three rebounds. But his four blocks and six steals told the story of his effort Thursday night.

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Josh Furlong

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Josh is the sports director at KSL.com and beat writer covering University of Utah athletics — primarily football, men’s and women's basketball and gymnastics. He is also an Associated Press Top 25 voter for college football.