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It would've been a dogfight for the Runnin' Utes, except for two players.
With both Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl suited up for Utah, it just seemed unsporting.
The senior and the freshman, respectively, were playing a level above the rest of the field, and seemed ever-present. A steal by Wright. A block by Poeltl. A 3-pointer by Wright. A putback by Poeltl.
The game transcript was a blur of the duo's names, as the Utes eventually romped to a 90-53 win over visiting North Dakota at the Huntsman Center.
What does unfair look like? A combined 17 for 18 from the floor, with 47 points. Physically, North Dakota didn't have players to match up for the nimble-toed driving guard or the soft-handed 7-footer, and both helped make up for ho-hum nights from other Utes.
"I missed a couple of easy ones in the last couple games," Poeltl said. "I tried to put my focus on that and finish around the basket. It paid off."
It was a bit of a scrap in the middle, when North Dakota cut the lead to six in the first half and eight in the second. Turnovers hurt the Utes significantly, as they gave up 14 leading to 17 North Dakota points.
Poeltl helped by taking away the paint. He was a perfect 10 for 10 from the field, and his long arms were a menace. The freshman center grabbed 12 rebounds in his 27 minutes, and added 5 blocks and forced several more altered shots. If there was a bone to be picked, it was at the line where he was only 4 for 7.
The offensive game plan Friday was built around Poeltl's presence. The space he inhabited there also limited North Dakota to 12 points in the paint.
"There's been a focus there to feed the post. It's kind of a lost art; it's a skill," Larry Krystkowiak said. "It's maybe comparable in football to the run game."
Utah's high percentages in the lane helped open things up for Wright's 23-point night. The senior was often successful threading through two or three defenders, shooting 7 for 8 from the field with five assists and three rebounds.
He also went to the line more than he has this season: He was 8 for 9 on his free throws.
"The first couple games of the season, I shot four or five free throws," he said. "I just wanted to be more aggressive, get some easy free throws so my game could open up."
It was a little rockier beyond those two: The rest of the team shot 48 percent from the field, a figure that's probably skewed by a few late baskets as Utah pulled away. Brandon Taylor, Utah's consistent deep threat for the night, had 14 points and four rebounds. The next closest scorer was substitution starter Kenneth Ogbe, with seven points.
Utah played without the services of Jordan Loveridge, who sat out the night as a precaution after getting some tightness in one of his legs against Texas Pan American.
The Utes wrap up their home tournament Saturday evening with a 7 p.m. game against Alabama State.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah 90, N. Dakota 53
• Freshman forward Jakob Poeltl scores 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting to lead the Utes. • Senior guard Delon Wright scores 23 points on 7-for-8 shooting. • Utah plays without Jordan Loveridge, who sits out as a precaution after getting some tightness in one of his legs against Texas Pan Am on Wednesday.