SALT LAKE CITY — The product on the court wasn’t perfect — it was the first game of the season after all — but the Alex Jensen era of college basketball started off on a positive note.
After controlling an 11-point lead with 2:31 left in the first half, San Jose State slowly made its move. With 9:14 left in the game, Spartans forward Yaphet Moundi hit two free throws to give the visiting team its first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
Utah forward Seydou Traore refused to give up, though; and after a quick reset in a timeout, he came out of the break with a steal that he later converted into a go-ahead corner 3-pointer to change the tide. On the next possession, he drove to the rim for a layup to reclaim a 4-point lead for the Utes.
A few minutes later, he hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game to give the Runnin’ Utes a 9-point lead with just over four minutes left to play.
The only thing stopping the junior was a quick visit to the locker room to get checked out after he got hit in the face.
Traore eventually rejoined the team; but by then, Utah got rolling and got contributions from other players to pull away for a 84-75 season-opening win — the first win of the Jensen era.
The junior forward finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, while adding four steals, three assists and two blocks in the win.
Don McHenry, who had 12 first-half points and six rebounds, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds; while Keanu Dawes and Terrance Brown each contributed 12 points. Dawes fouled out with about a minute left in the game.
The Spartans had three players finish in double figures, with guard Colby Garland leading the team with 21 points, four assists and three rebounds in the loss. JaVaughn Hannah and Jermaine Washington each added 12 points apiece.
This story will be updated.