Snowbears remain perfect

TAYLORSVILLE — Getting to sweet sixteen was easier for the Snowbears than blowing out birthday candles or posing for a driver's license picture.

Utah extended its league-best start to a perfect 16-0 by outclassing Tijuana by a score of 110-77 at SLCC's Lifetime Activities Center Thursday.

Sweet 16 is more than the Snowbears' win total. Utah leads the ABA's western "Red" division and are the only undefeated team remaining, ranking No. 1 on the league's power rating of the sixteen teams who would make the playoffs if they started today.

Former Weber State star Harold Arceneaux came out breathing fire against the Dragons, scoring 10 of the Snowbears first 16 points as Utah put Tijuana out of reach from the beginning despite some sloppy execution early.

By the third quarter, head coach Ike Austin's squad was showing off with behind-the-back passes and alley oops.

Austin has criticized his team at times for letting up with a lead, but this time the Snowbears didn't slow down en route to the 33-point margin.

"I think when you're winning so much and you're winning so easy you've got to come with a different challenge each night," Austin said. "You've still got to execute and still have to play hard."

Utah will face the Dragons at home again Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tyrone Hayes came off the bench to lead Utah with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

Utah's Clay Tucker struggled finding his shot in the first half, but rebounded to end with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the floor. Point guard Curtis Millage also contributed to the Snowbears success by dishing 12 assists.

Tucker and Hayes sparked the 23-8 third-quarter run that put the Snowbears up by 30, where they would remain for the rest of the game.

Arceneaux, who added 16 points, wasn't the only player on the floor with in-state collegiate experience.

Former Utah State guard Ronnie Ross took the court for Tijuana, and ex-Utah Running Ute Cameron Koford started the game for Utah.

Ross started and contributed eight points, while forward Gene Shipley dropped in a team-high 20.

The Dragons (6-8) didn't execute as a team and left for the locker room at halftime without a single assist, though they got to five by the end of the game.