Transfer Seydou Traore scored a career-high 23 points to lift Utah to a season-opening 84-75 win over San Jose State on Monday night in Salt Lake City.
The Utes dominated down the stretch after briefly giving up the lead midway through the second half, paving the way for the win in former Utah standout Alex Jensen’s head coaching debut.
Colby Garland topped the Spartans with 21 points, while reserve Yaphet Moundi hauled in 13 rebounds to go with his 12 points.
Don McHenry added 16 points and nine rebounds, Terrence Brown totaled 12 points and eight assists and Keanu Dawes scored 12 with nine boards in the Utes’ victory.
Utah shot 50% from the field, including a 10-for-25 performance from 3-point range. Traore, who previously played at Iowa and Manhattan, drained 5 of 8 shots beyond the arc and added nine rebounds.
SJSU used a 7-0 run midway through the second half to take a 64-63 lead after a pair of Moundi free throws.
Traore put Utah back up with a 3-pointer and a layup and Terrence Brown capped a seven-point spurt while the Spartans went scoreless for more than three minutes. That came during a 12-2 Utah run, which concluded with Traore’s fifth 3-pointer.
The Utes’ lead returned to double-digit territory on a Kendyl Sanders 3 with under three minutes remaining.
San Jose State got off to a quick start with buckets on its first two possessions for a 4-0 lead.
SJSU led 20-18 midway through the first half after a Garland 3-pointer when the Utes seized control with a 9-0 run and a 27-20 lead.
McHenry gave Utah its biggest first-half lead, 42-31, with a deep shot as part of a 12-point, six-rebound half. SJSU trimmed its deficit, with the Utes taking a six-point edge into the locker room.
