Pac-12 Tournament: The Day Two Rundown

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March 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes forward

Jordan Loveridge

(21) celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Utes defeated the Cardinal 80-56. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

(#3)Utah Utes down the (#6)Stanford Cardinal, 72-52

It was only appropriate that Utah would top Stanford in the last game of the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 Tournament. Their victory would ensure that no team seeded below No. 4 would reach the semifinal round. As boring as that sounds, it’s just how it is in the Pac-12 conference.

Like the other teams that advanced from the first round into the quarterfinal, Stanford played tough and even held an early lead over the nationally ranked Utah Utes. However, they lead was soon relinquished once the rested Utes got their legs under them and started showing off their conference-leading defense.

Giving up a conference-low 56.4 points per game, Utah began clamping down on a Stanford team that lost steam after a hard fought game against Washington last night. Chasson Randle had an okay night shooting 43.6 percent from the field. However, the rest of the team was not so lucky.

The Cardinal, as a team, shot 37.3 percent from the field and was generally stifled by the tough Utes defense. Stefan Nastic, the fifth year senior whom was supposed to be a big contributor, only converted 30.7 percent of his field goals and was in foul trouble for most of the game.

Utah, on the other hand, had a field day once they shook off some rust. National Player of the Year candidate Delon Wright went four for four from three-point range and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Jordan Loveridge showed off what an offseason of hard work will do and produced 18 points while going three for five from three-point range.

Utah has its work cut out for them against a hot Oregon team, but if they are able to tap into that defense energy like they did tonight, they won’t have any trouble advancing to the Pac-12 Tournament Finals.

Next: Pac-12 Tournament Predictions: Arizona King of the Hill

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