By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, March 12, 2015

No last-second drama for the Cardinal this time.

In the first half of Stanford’s Pac-12 men’s basketball Tournament quarterfinal game against Utah, the Cardinal led by as many as eight points early and took a five-point lead into the break. Two and a half minutes into the second half, Stanford still led by two.

Then the No. 3-seeded Utes took over, dominated the second half, and routed Stanford 80-56 at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Utah (24-7) will meet Oregon in the semifinals, while the Cardinal (19-13) await word on which other postseason tournament they could land in. Stanford could still be selected to the NCAA Tournament, but likely has a better shot at the National Invitation Tournament.

With 16:54 remaining in the second half, Delon Wright drained a 3-pointer that put the Utes ahead to stay at 42-41.

Stanford pulled to within 53-49 at the 11:15 mark on a jumper by Chasson Randle. Utah responded with a 14-point run over the next seven minutes – capped by a Jordan Loveridge 3-pointer – to build a 67-49 lead.

Randle led the Cardinal with a game-high 22 points, Anthony Brown grabbed six rebounds and Robert Cartwright had two assists.

Wright topped the Utes with 20 points, Loveridge contributed 18 points, eight boards and five assists. Jakob Poeltl added 16 points.

Utah held a 39-24 rebounding advantage, and shot 50 percent from the field.