Utah Men’s Basketball Hosts Maine To Commence Season Thursday

Utah Men’s Basketball Hosts Maine To Commence Season Thursday

SALT LAKE CITY-Thursday, the University of Utah men’s basketball commences the season by hosting the Maine Black Bears of the America East Conference at the Huntsman Center. This will be the first match-up between the schools in history.

This is only the fourth time in history the Utes have played a team from the America East Conference and they are 3-1 in such games all time.

Their last game against an America East foe was when they hosted the Albany Great Danes December 28, 2006 and they dropped a 59-58 decision.

The Utes are 84-26 (.763) in season openers all-time and 76-13 (.854) at home all-time in such games. Under head coach Larry Krystkowiak, the Utes are 7-0 in season openers.

The last time the Utes lost a season opener was in the 2009-10 season when they fell to the Idaho Vandals 94-87.

The Black Bears are led by new head coach Richard Barron, who takes over for Bob Walsh.

Walsh went 24-100 (.194) in four seasons at the helm in Orono, Maine.

Redshirt junior guard Isaiah White is the Black Bears’ leading returning scorer as he amassed 11.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season.