Defenseless Utes outshot by Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA — After watching Southern Utah shoot the lights out in an opening-night loss, the Utah basketball team vowed to fix its leaky defense.

Eight days later, nothing has changed.

The Utes lost their second straight game — the first time they've lost their opening two games in 27 years — 83-72 to Santa Clara Saturday night in front of 1,731 at the Leavey Center.

The Broncos shot 60.4 percent from the field — 66.7 percent in the second half — as the Utes didn't seem to have a clue defensively for the second straight game.

"Until we take pride in guarding, nothing is going to change," said Ute coach Ray Giacoletti. "They can't come out and shoot 67 percent in the second half."

Giacoletti said he addressed the problem over the last week, but apparently his team didn't get the message.

"Until we can defend, there's not going to be any improvement," he said.

During last year's disappointing 14-15 season, the Ute team allowed more than 75 points in regulation just twice and allowed their opponents to shoot better than 60 percent from the field just twice. They've done both twice already this year.

It didn't matter that they shot 50 percent from the field themselves, including 64.3 percent from 3-point range and 90.5 percent from the field.

"It's about getting stops," Giacoletti said.

Inside, nobody guarded Sean Dennison all night as the senior forward scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Outside, nobody guarded reserve guard Calvin Johnson, who scored 18 points, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range.

"How many more threes is he going to have to drill before someone guards him?" Giacoletti said. "It doesn't matter if you're a freshman or what year you are, you've got to understand what we're trying to do."

A 17-2 run in the first half gave Santa Clara the lead and by halftime the Broncos led 37-27. The Utes fell behind by as many as 14 before making a rally.

Daniel Deane, who was benched the first half for being late for practice Friday, entered the game for the first time five minutes into the second half and quickly made six points. When Johnnie Bryant sank a 3-pointer with 10:05 left, the Santa Clara lead was cut to three at 57-54. However, the Utes couldn't convert on their next four possessions and the Broncos upped the lead to 10 at 64-54. Eventually the lead got as high as 16 points.

Luke Nevill, who was bottled up much of the night by the Bronco defense, led the Utes with 17 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Stephen Weigh came off the bench to score 15, including 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, while Bryant had 12 and Shaun Green 11.