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When life takes your jersey and gives you No. 13 instead, there's two ways to look at it.
1. Take it as an ill omen.
2. Take it as Kyle Kuzma did: "I just went James Harden today, I guess."
The sophomore forward swapped in as No. 13 after his No. 35 went missing, and somehow found a way to bust his slump. He poured in 17 points on 5 for 11 shooting, including going 7 for 8 at the line in Harden-esque fashion, and grabbed 11 rebounds.
While the 6-foot-8 Kuzma was facing an undersized Idaho State team that could offer only limited resistance, the bouncy forward had the tenacity to seize his opportunity. He ended up playing 23 minutes after Brekkott Chapman left the game with an ankle injury, and reminded the Huntsman Center crowd what makes him such an intriguing player.
They needed the reminder after a sub-par trip to Puerto Rico, when he totaled 6 points and 11 rebounds across three games.
"I just got my focus back," he said. "I played pretty bad in Puerto Rico — I wouldn't say bad, just not up to my standards. I got back in the gym and got my focus right."
There was one or two iffy moments early: Within the first four minutes, Kuzma took a 3-pointer 4 feet back from the arc early in the shot clock. Even before the shot clanked against the rim, Larry Krystkowiak had signaled for Chapman to sub in.
But as the game went on, Kuzma showed his good side. A second half jam off an assist from Brandon Taylor was the high point of his second double-double this season.
Of course, both of those games have come against Big Sky opponents at home — Kuzma is still looking to harness his talent more consistently against bigger opponents.
Krystkowiak said he's not looking for Kuzma to score "20 a night," but he would like him to be among the three or four players who can score in double figures on any given night. He saw Kuzma's big game as a step in that direction.
"We're still dealing with some young kids," he said. "Confidence is always a big thing."
Bealer, Tucker step up
One stat Krystkowiak was pleased to see: Utah shot a season best 47 percent from deep range.
Much of that had to do with players who haven't made much of a mark yet this year: Junior Gabe Bealer and senior Dakarai Tucker.
Bealer was Utah's third-leading scorer, and he was 5 for 5 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and a dunk mixed in. Tucker found his shooting touch for the first time this season, knocking down a team-best three 3-pointers.
Between the two, Krystkowiak said he was pleased to see them finding the rim.
"It hasn't been easy for them, coming into a game," he said. "I thought Gabe was real aggressive, he drove a few times, made some nice cuts. … I was proud of both of those guys to stick with it."
The bench as a unit scored a season-high 46 points.
Chapman leaves with injury
Utah's other sophomore forward, Chapman, left the first half after making his second shot of the game, signaling himself out while limping on his right foot.
Krystkowiak said Sunday that he had sprained his ankle against Temple. While the coach had not yet talked to the training staff about the injury on Friday night, the Tribune learned that Chapman aggravated the injury. Chapman returned to the bench without an obvious brace or cast, but did not resume play. He scored 4 points in 4 minutes against ISU.
Krystkowiak said he didn't think the injury was serious.
Twitter: @kylegoon