SALT LAKE CITY — Gabe Madsen played a pivotal role in Utah’s commanding victory over Utah Tech, scoring 14 of his total 19 points during a dominant first half that established a double-digit lead. The Utes defeated the Trailblazers with a final score of 84-53 on Friday night.

In addition to Madsen’s performance, Keanu Dawes contributed 14 points and secured nine rebounds. Mason Madsen added 12 points, while Mike Sharavjamts chipped in with 10 points for the Utes, who improved to a record of 4-1 following a previous setback against Mississippi State, where they lost 78-73. The team displayed an effective shooting rate of 48% while capitalizing on 18 points from turnovers. They also dominated the rebounding game, outpacing their opponents by 14, bolstered by Miro Little’s impressive tally of 11 rebounds and eight assists.

For Utah Tech, Tennessee Rainwater and Hakim Byrd led the scoring with eight points each. The Trailblazers struggled offensively, managing only a 30% shooting percentage throughout the game.

After leading by 16 points at halftime, the Utes unleashed an 8-0 run early in the second half, fueled by 3-pointers from Mason Madsen and Hunter Erickson, pushing their lead to 28 with just under nine minutes remaining. The Utes continued to dominate the game, allowing them to stretch their lead to as much as 32 points at one point.

Gabe Madsen’s first-half performance was particularly noteworthy as he hit six of his ten attempts from the field, which included two successful three-point shots. Dawes had a burst of scoring late in the first half, netting nine consecutive points that elevated the Utes to a 13-point advantage with three minutes remaining. Additionally, a three-pointer by Erickson right before halftime widened the lead to 18 points, solidifying Utah’s control of the game as they headed into the locker room.