Gaels Fall Short Against Utah, 65-59

Monday, January 6

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

at Utah

1/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Tim Frost posted season-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds as Utah outlasted Saint Mary's 65-59 Monday night. Freshman Daniel Kickert had 21 points and Samuel Saint-Jean had 19. Both marks were career-highs. With the loss SMC ends its preseason schedule with a 7-6 record, and Utah improved to 10-3.

Frost, a transfer from Portland of Saint Mary's West Coast Conference, made a putback with 1:20 left to quell a Gaels surge and ensure Utah's eighth win in the last nine games. Nick Jacobson added 10 points for the Utes.

Freshman Daniel Kickert and Samuel Saint-Jean combined for 40 of the Gaels' 59 points as both set career marks but they didn't get much help. The rest of the team combined to shoot 8 of 22 and committed 13 turnovers.

Saint Mary's also failed to overcome a 21-9 rebounding deficit in the second half against the physical Utes.

The Gaels, who forced Utah into 16 turnovers, caused a couple of Utah miscues with tight defense in a 10-3 surge capped by Adam Capron's 3-pointer to cut Utah's lead to 60-54 with 2:11 to play. But Saint Mary's couldn't get within five points the rest of the way.

Utah, which gives up just 57.4 points a game, hasn't allowed more than 61 points since a Nov. 27 loss to Arizona State in overtime. The Utes held Saint Mary's to just six points in a 10:14 stretch of the second half as they built a 13-point lead.

Frost, who had six offensive rebounds, scored four points in a 10-3 run that gave Utah a 57-44 lead with 5:09 to play.

Chase Poole, the Gaels' leading scorer, had just four points before fouling out with 2:29 to play.

Utah now leads the series 14-2 and has won the last nine in a row against the Gaels.

Saint Mary's will return to action when they open West Coast Conference action on Saturday, January 11. Tip-off for the WCC opener is scheduled for 7:05 pm at USF's War Menorial Gym.