SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Will Clyburn scored 14 points and Jason Washburn added 12 to power Utah over Grand Canyon 72-48 on Friday night.
Josh Watkins had 11 points and six assists while Chris Hines made three 3-pointers for the Utes in the season opener for both teams. Nick Witherill led the Division II Antelopes with 11 points.
Four of Utah’s top five scorers from last season graduated or transferred, and the Utes played with seven new players. Though they looked disjointed at times, it didn’t matter much against the overpowered Antelopes.
Utah lost its last two season-opening games to Southwest Baptist in 2008 and to Idaho in 2009. The Utes made sure it didn’t happen again with pressure defense that flustered the Antelopes into 29 percent shooting and a 52-26 rebounding advantage.
