Utah Utes guard Mike Saunders Jr. (wearing grey) passes the ball
Utah Utes guard Mike Saunders Jr. (2) passes the ball during a men’s basketball game against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles
Joe covers University of Utah sports for the Deseret News.

The Utah Runnin’ Utes improved to 2-0 on the season, continuing their nonconference slate with a 72-44 win over the CSU Baskersfield Roadrunners on Friday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Here are three keys to Utah’s win.

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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots in front of Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Ugnius Jarusevicius (21) and Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Modestas Kancleris (55) during a men’s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) moves around Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners guard Cedquavious Hunter (0) during a men’s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots in front of Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Ugnius Jarusevicius (21) and Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Modestas Kancleris (55) during a men’s basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Mike Saunders Jr. (2) passes the ball during a men’s basketball game against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Hot starts to open each half were monumental in the Utes’ victory. Utah opened the first half on a 14-0 run, holding CSU Baskersfield scoreless over the first seven minutes of the opening period before the Roadrunners’ Kaleb Higgins hit a 3-pointer to put the Roadrunners on the board.
After allowing a 7-0 run to close the first half out, Utah regrouped and opened the second half of a 16-2 run over the first six-and-a-half minutes to take a comfortable 52-25 lead and put the game out of reach.

  • Gabe Madsen was the star on Friday night, scoring a career-high 25 points. He also made a career-high six 3-pointers. Madsen was key to both runs to start each half and showed off his athleticism on a dunk and a reverse layup.
  • The Utes held the Roadrunners to 30% shooting from the field while shooting 48% for the game themselves.
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