SALT LAKE CITY-Saturday, Utah men’s basketball faces Brigham Young at the Vivint Smart Arena as part of the Zions Bank Beehive Classic. This will also feature Utah State squaring off against Weber State.
This is the second year of a three-year round-robin as the Utes will face Weber State next season, having squared off against Utah State last season.
The Utes and Cougars are playing for the 258th time in history Saturday with BYU leading the all-time series 129-128.
At neutral sites, the Cougars lead the Utes 6-5 and this is the first neutral site game in the series since March 9, 2006 in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament. The Utes won that game 74-70.
The Utes improved to 4-3 on the season after dismantling the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 69-64 at the Huntsman Center.
The Cougars come into this game at 6-4 and star forward Yoeli Childs continues to be their focal point. After a 95-80 win over Utah State Wednesday, Childs is averaging 22.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field.
In his first game of the season against the Aggies, guard Nick Emery posted 11 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from range to bolster the Cougars.
The Cougars are averaging 85.7 points per game and surrendering 77.2 points per contest.
The Utes counter by averaging 74.6 points per game and giving up 71.6 points per contest, while sporting a 4-3 record on the season.
Guard Sedrick Barefield posts a team-best 13.7 points per game for the Utes and forward Donnie Tillman is Utah’s overall statistical star, netting 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
The Beehive Classic will conclude next season with the Utes’ aforementioned game against Weber State and BYU’s game against Utah State.
