Utah Utes vs Eastern Washington Eagles Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Utah Aims to Continue Home Success vs. Struggling Eastern Washington

Utes Look to Stay Perfect at Home

Utah (5-1) will attempt to maintain its dominance at the Huntsman Center on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Eastern Washington in a nonconference showdown. The Utes have started the season with five straight home wins, extending their overall home winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season.

Coming off a 94-48 rout of Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, Utah showcased its offensive firepower and defensive intensity. Gabe Madsen led the charge with 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including a scorching 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. Madsen is averaging a team-high 21.8 points per game and continues to be a key contributor for the Utes.

Center Lawson Lovering made his season debut after missing the first five games due to an ankle injury. He posted 12 points and seven rebounds, providing a valuable presence in the paint. Freshman Miro Little added 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the victory.

Despite the dominant win, Utah head coach Craig Smith is pushing his team to improve its consistency and execution.

“We just have to keep learning how to win,” Smith said. “We’ve got to keep growing … have discipline, toughness. We can play so much better on the offensive end.”

Eastern Washington’s Struggles Continue

Eastern Washington (1-6) is reeling from five consecutive losses, including an 0-4 record on the road. The Eagles’ most recent setback came in a 67-51 defeat at UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, despite holding a second-half lead.

Head coach Dan Monson was encouraged by his team’s defensive effort early in the game.

“I thought we played good defense the first 30 minutes,” Monson said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win because we defended and rebounded the best we have all season.”

The Eagles played without starters Mason Williams (13.5 points per game) and Sebastian Hartmann (10.0 points per game), who were sidelined due to undisclosed reasons. Nic McClain has been a bright spot for Eastern Washington, leading the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game and adding 5.1 rebounds.

Key Matchup: Utah’s Offense vs. Eastern Washington’s Defense

Utah’s balanced offensive attack, led by Madsen and supported by the return of Lovering, will look to exploit an Eastern Washington defense that has shown flashes of improvement but has struggled with consistency. The Eagles will need to rely on McClain and a cohesive defensive effort to keep the game competitive.

Free NCAAB Picks Are In! Get today’s top free college basketball picks to help you bet smart.

What’s at Stake

Utah seeks to extend its home winning streak and continue building momentum before heading into tougher nonconference matchups. For Eastern Washington, a road win against a strong opponent like Utah would provide a much-needed morale boost and mark a turning point in its season.