No longer perfect

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – So much for the hot start.

The Washington State Cougars’ best beginning in 13 years came crashing down amid a hail of dunks and 3-pointers in the Huntsman Center on Saturday night, where the Utah Utes – motivated by a blowout loss to the Cougs last season – overwhelmed them in a 69-55 men’s basketball victory.

“They thoroughly outplayed us,” WSU coach Tony Bennett said.

Not only did the Cougars lose the game, but they lost a little swagger going into their meeting with No. 22 Gonzaga on Tuesday in a game expected to draw the biggest crowd in years to Friel Court.

Guard Derrick Low insisted the Cougs were not looking forward to the meeting with the Zags when they allowed the Utes to shoot 58 percent from the floor and score more points than any of their previous seven opponents.

“I’m positive that wasn’t a factor,” Low said. “It’s just they out-toughed us, they out-gutted us, and we just have to play our game. We can’t hold our head down, Utah improved a lot from last year. … We just have to stick together and come back and get ready for practice and get ready for Gonzaga.”

The Utes said they were motivated by the 69-42 whipping the Cougars put on them at the Cougar Hardwood Classic in Seattle last season, and exacted revenge in textbook fashion.

Center Luke Nevill dominated inside by scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds – and making perfect passes to open shooters seemingly every time WSU tried to double-team him.

Worse yet?

The Utes buried 3-pointers seemingly every time.

They made 9 of 17 shots from long range, including three in a 14-0 first-half run that blew the game open. Forward Shaun Green tied a school record by making all five of his 3-point shots, on his way to a career-high 17 points.

“There was motivation in that they were undefeated,” Green said, “and we wanted to prove to people that we’re a good team. And last year, they kind of embarrassed us, so we wanted to get a little revenge on them.”

Forward Robbie Cowgill led the Cougars with a career-high 16 points, while Low added 15. But Low scored only three points in the decisive first half, when the Cougars shot just 32 percent.

“We didn’t come out and play defensively the way we have to, to have a chance to be successful,” Bennett said.

The Utes led 36-21 at halftime, and by as many as 25 points in the second half.

“When they got going, it was hard for us to get back in the game,” Bennett added. “You have to respect the big kid inside, and we did a solid job early on him. … But those other guys got loose. We have to learn from this in a big way, and in a hurry.”

The Utes won their third straight after their first 0-3 start in 36 years, and beat WSU at home for the 10th straight time.

Utah 69, WSU 55

Percentages: FG .417, FT .688. 3-Point Goals: 4-8, .500 (Low 3-4, Weaver 1-1, Rochestie 0-1, Harmeling 0-2). Team Rebounds: 22. Blocked Shots: 2 (Weaver 2). Turnovers: 10 (Cowgill 3, Clark 2, Weaver 2, Low, Matthews, Harmeling). Steals: 6 (Cowgill 2, Low 2, Weaver 2).

Percentages: FG .581, FT .833. 3-Point Goals: 9-17, .529 (Green 5-5, Bryant 3-5, Johns 1-2, Borha 0-1, Weigh 0-2, Tillie 0-2). Team Rebounds: 27. Blocked Shots: 2 (Nevill, Deane). Turnovers: 15 (Nevill 4, Deane 3, Green 2, Borha 2, Tillie 2, Eatmon, Drca). Steals: 5 (Green 2, Bryant, Borha, Deane).

Halftime–Utah 36, Washington State 21. A–NA.