SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Justin Bibbins scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak was ejected in the first half and the Utes overcame an 11-point deficit to beat UC Davis 69-59 on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT.
After being tossed from the game late in the first half for arguing a foul, Krystkowiak pushed over a seat on the bench and tossed a stool while walking through the exit tunnel.
Tyler Rawson and Donnie Tillman scored 11 points apiece for Utah. The Utes (20-11) will play LSU (18-14) in the second round.
UC Davis (22-11) led by 11 points and Colin Russell’s layup gave the Aggies a 39-29 lead early in the second half. Bibbins hit two free throws to cap a 10-3 run that pulled Utah within one at the end of the third quarter and the Utes opened the fourth with an 8-0 spurt that made it 56-48 when Bibbins hit a 3 with 5:53 to play. Garrison Goode’s layup about a minute later trimmed UCD’s deficit to six, but it would get no closer.
The Aggies made just 1 of 11 from the field, and committed three turnovers, from halfway through the third to the middle of the fourth.
A.J. John had 11 points, while Michael Onyebalu, Siler Schneider and TJ Shorts II scored 10 apiece, for UCD. Shorts added six rebounds and five assists, giving him 146 helpers this season - two shy of the program’s D-1 single-season record.
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