Utah wins 5th straight behind Branden Carlson's 26 points in 76-62 win over Utah Valley

SALT LAKE CITY -- — Branden Carlson scored 26 points and Utah beat Utah Valley 76-62 on Saturday for its fifth straight win.

Carlson was 10 of 16 from the floor and made three from long range to go with seven rebounds. Rollie Worster and Gabe Madsen each added 13 points for Utah (8-2), which shot 50% (29 of 58) from the floor. Lawson Lovering had eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Utah Valley trailed by double digits for most of the second half but pulled to 67-62 with 2:43 to play. The Utes closed with a pair of free throws and a dunk from Carlson, a Worster jumper and Madsen’s 3 to end it.

Caleb Stone-Carrawell scored 12 points and Tanner Toolson had 11 for Utah Valley (6-5). Trevin Dorius added nine points and 10 rebounds.

Utah Valley led for most of the first half before the Utes closed on a 10-4 surge for a 38-32 advantage at the break. Carlson scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a pair of 3s in the first half.

Each team host games on Wednesday. Utah plays Bellarmine while Utah Valley faces Liberty.

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