Who | Utah Tech (5-7, 2-0 WAC) vs Florida International (5-9, 0-0 CUSA)
When | Saturday, Dec. 30 – 3 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena – St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UniteTheFamily / #IntoTheStorm
 
First Time for Everything
Saturday's game against the Florida International University Panthers will signify several firsts in the Trailblazers' NCAA history. Not only is it the first time that UT and FIU have played one another, it's also the first time Utah Tech has played an opponent from the state of Florida.
 
The Panthers currently hold a 5-9 record and are coming off a home victory over Maine. With wins over schools such as Houston Christian and Kennesaw State, FIU scored a program-record 146 points against NCCAA side Trinity University. Arturo Dean has been a critical part of the team this season, as he currently leads the Panthers in scoring (12.2), rebounding (4.5), assists (4.7) and steals (3.9). As a team, FIU is shooting 45.1% from the field while finding success from range, averaging 8.5 made three-pointers per game.
 
Last Game
Utah Tech is coming off its second Pac-12 matchup of the season, falling to the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 21. Though both teams struggled to score early on, the Buffaloes put up points in a hurry, using a quick 10-0 run after the first media timeout to establish a lead that would last the entire game. UT did find its offense in the second half, with 46 second half points accounting for some 65% of the team's points in a game that finished 98-71.
 
Shake it Off
After struggling on the offensive end against North Dakota on Dec. 16, Aric Demings responded in a big way against the Buffaloes mere days later. He finished the game with 14 points on 6-14 shooting, adding one rebound, three assists and a steal in 20 minutes played. Still in his first season of college basketball, Demings has posted double-digit scoring in six games, with averages of 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and a team-leading 3.1 assists per game.
 
Three-Straight
Noa Gonsalves has played a crucial role in the Trailblazer offense this season, as the 6-1 junior enters Saturday's game as Utah Tech's second-leading scorer at 10.8 points per game. Shooting 44.4% from the field and 92.9% from the line, Gonsalves has finished in double-figures for scoring in each of his last three games, most recently shooting 5-11 from the field to finish with 14 points against Colorado.
 
In an expanded role this season, the Lehi, Utah, native has improved his scoring totals when compared to last season, jumping from 8.7 to 10.8 points per game.
 
Second Half Shooting
The Trailblazer offense's 46 second half points against CU ties a season-high for points in a single half, while it's also the most points scored in any second half this season. Part of the outburst was due to improved shooting from three-point range, as the Trailblazers finished 6-14 (43%) during the period. Gonsalves and David Elliott both hit two deep balls while Demings and Angelo Kambala were responsible for the other two.
 
Career High
Not only was that second half triple the first in Kambala's Utah Tech career, it also fueled a career-high for points scored, as the Las Vegas, Nev., native shot 2-3 from the field to finish with seven points in 13 minutes played. Kamabala has now played in five games this season, including each of the team's previous two against Colorado and North Dakota, averaging 8.0 minutes per appearance.
 
Starting Five
Another player who has found success in recent contests is Hamed Olayinka, whose performances led to Head Coach Jon Judkins rewarding him with a spot in the starting five against Colorado, his first as a Trailblazer. The 6-9 Olayinka has played in every game this season and leads the team in blocks with an average of 1.75 per game, which ranks third in the WAC.
 
Mixing Things Up
Olayinka wasn't the only Trailblazer who has seen an uptick in playing time as several reserves have found their ways on the court in recent games. Kambala and Stone Hutchings both have five or fewer appearances on the year but have played in each of the team's previous two contests, while Trey Hall (four appearances) and Kade Madsen (one appearance) both checked in against North Dakota on Dec. 16.
 
Back in Double Figures
Beon Riley is one of four players on the roster to average double-digit points per game, though last week's matchup against Colorado served as a bounce back after scoring two points in his previous two appearances. Against the Buffaloes, the Chula Vista, Calif., native shot 5-9 from the field on his way to 10 points, also contributing two rebounds, one assist and one block.
 
With eight games of 10 or more points this season, Riley is shooting 47.1% from the field and 85.0% from the free throw line.
 
No Sir!
Tanner Christensen has seen a noticeable uptick in his block rate this season, entering Saturday's game as the WAC's fifth leading shot blocker at 1.67 per game. Utah Tech's 6-10 big man swatted three shots against Colorado, notching his third-straight game with three or more blocks and his sixth game this season with at least two. With a combined 25 blocks across two seasons at Idaho and 25 last season, Christensen is up to 20 this season as the team approaches the halfway mark of the regular season.
 
Turnovers
For the fourth time this season, Utah Tech posted fewer turnovers than its opponent. Using four blocks and eight steals, the Trailblazers forced 15 Buffalo turnovers and converted those into 14 points, committing 12 in the process. Entering Saturday's game, UT is forcing an average of 14.1 turnovers per game, which ranks fifth out of the 11 teams in the WAC.
 
What's Next
Saturday's matchup against FIU signifies the end of non-conference play, as it's off to Seattle U to begin a string of 18 consecutive games against teams in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).