(Abilene, Texas - Feb. 22, 2025) - With four Trailblazers finishing in double figures, Utah Tech battled tough on Saturday night at Abilene Christian falling 80-72 to the Wildcats at Moody Coliseum.

"They come out with a lot of energy and really get after it. I thought we made a run and they want to win so much. This is a very hard place to play and we knew that going in and we just have to be tougher. We continue to improve and three of our final four games are at home so it's time to get going," head coach Jon Judkins said.

Utah Tech (6-21, 2-10 WAC) was led by 19 points from senior guard Noa Gonsalves, who sank four field goals and nine free throws, to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Hakim Byrd and Samuel Ariyibi chipped in 12 points apiece while Beon Riley tacked on 11 points and five rebounds. Ariyibi added a game-high 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

Abilene Christian (14-13, 6-5 WAC), who won its fifth straight game, saw three WIldcats finish in double digits with Leonardo Bettiol pacing ACU with 19 points followed by Quion Williams chipped in 18 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Hunter Jack Madden, who led ACU with 18 points in their previous match up earlier this season, tallied 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.

How It Happened
Getting behind 13-5 after the opening five minutes of action, the Trailblazers stayed within five (28-23) after a three-pointer by Justin Bieker.

An 8-0 run for the Wildcats extended their lead to 36-23 as ACU kept a 13-point lead heading into the locker room at 44-31.

Coming out of the break, a jumper by Ariyibi and a three-pointer by Riley cut the Wildcats' lead to eight (44-36).

A three-point play by Riley kept the Trailblazers within six (53-47) with just under 13 minutes to play and after seven-plus minutes of action, a layup by Madiba Owona kept UT within seven (67-60) with 5:42 to play.

A pair of free throws from Owona brought the Trailblazers within six (71-65), but five straight points for ACU pushed the Wildcats in front by 11 with two minutes remaining as Utah Tech could not any closer than eight down the stretch.

Numbers to Know

• The Trailblazers fall to 0-7 all-time against Abilene Christian and 0-4 in Abilene.
• Utah Tech shot 40.7 percent (22-54) from the field for its seventh straight game shooting over 40 percent from the field.
• UT held a 35-33 advantage in rebounds and 14-11 in offensive rebounds.
• The Trailblazers held the advantage in second chance points (17-14).
• Gonsalves led the Trailblazers in scoring the 11th time this season and the sixth time in WAC play.
• Ariyibi also notched double-doubles against Whittier and South Dakota in December and his 12 rebounds matched his season high.
• Byrd reached double figures for the first time since Feb. 1.
• Riley scored in double digits for the fifth straight game and ninth time overall in WAC play.

Up Next
The Trailblazers are back home on Thursday night to host Southern Utah (11-16, 3-10 WAC) for Alumni Night at 7 p.m. at Burns Arena.