Men's Basketball | 12/15/2024 1:00:00 PM

Game #13
Who | Whittier (6-2) at Utah Tech (2-10)
When | Monday, Dec. 16 – 7 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena – St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers + #WACmbb

Scouting the Poets
Whittier, a Division III program located in Whittier, Calif., comes into Monday night's game with a 6-2 mark with a pair of wins over West Coast Baptist College, including Saturday afternoon on the road, 99-84, 

The Poets also have victories over Linfield (76-69), Texas Lutheran (77-66), Southern California Leadership University (87-62) and Occidental College (84-79).

Whittier is averaging 89.3 points per game while allowing 74.5 points per contest and has reached the 90-point plateau in three contests.

Senior guard Aamari Smith is a scoring machine averaging 30.5 points per contest while shooting 54.7 percent from the field & dishes out a team-high 3.9 assists per game.

Senior center Tyler Watters tops the Poets averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, including grabbing 26 offensive boards.

Series History vs. Whittier
This will be Utah Tech's first-ever meeting against Whittier.

Last Time Out
In their first home game since Nov. 13, a driving layup by Weber State in the final seconds of regulation handed the Trailblazers a heartbreaking 73-71 loss on Friday night.

The Trailblazers were led by a season-high 19 points from Noa Gonsalves, who went 6-of-12 from the field, nailed three three-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists 

Redshirt junior forward Samuel Ariyibi had an all-around impact performance registering a career-high 18 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists, notched three blocks and added a steal.

Weber State was led by 21 points from Miguel Tomley, who hit the game-winning shot for the Wildcats.

A contest that saw 11 ties and 11 lead changes, the Trailblazers led 54-47 midway through the second half.

Locked up at 67 apiece, a free throw from Ariyibi with 1:08 to play put UT ahead, 68-67.

The Wildcats responded with four straight points to push Weber State in front, 71-68, but a free throw by Ariyibi and a put-back layup by Tennessee Rainwater tied the game at 71 apiece with 14 seconds to go.

Down to the final possession, Tomley drove to the right side and laid in the game-winner for the Wildcats.

Where The Trailblazers Rank in the WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech leads the WAC in three point percentage defense holding opponents to 30.5 percent from beyond the arc. Seven of UT's 11 opponents have shot below that mark with Montana being the lowest mark (.200).

The Trailblazers are also second in turnovers per game (11.4) & three point attempts per game (23.5) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.09).

Individually, Gonsalves ranks second in the WAC in steals (17), is third in minutes per game (32:57) and is fifth in three pointers per game (2.09).

Three Point King
Gonsalves became the program leader for the most career three pointers made on Saturday at Utah State passing Brandon Simister (2012-18).

He also sits atop the career three-point field goal attempts (450) and is ninth in 3-point percentage at 37.3 percent.

Sharing The Rock
The Trailblazers recorded a season-leading 20 assists at Utah State led by a Division I career high from Hakim Byrd with seven. 

It was the most assists for the Trailblazers since dishing out 22 assists in a 79-74 win at home at UTRGV on March 7, 2024.

Season Best in Field Goal & Three Point Shooting Percentage
The Trailblazers shot a season-high 49 percent (24-49) from the field and 42.1 percent (8-19) from three-point range against Weber State.

Consistent Trailblazers
Gonsalves, Bieker, Byrd and Britton Berrett have played in all 12 games while Gonsalves is the lone Blazer to score in all 12 contests.

What's Next
Utah Tech closes out its three-game homestand on Thursday night hosting South Dakota (9-4) at 7 p.m. at Burns Arena.