SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A slow start shooting the ball sunk Bethune-Cookman as the Wildcats opened the 2021 Sunshine slam with an 86-55 loss to Utah Monday night in Salt Lake City.
 
Summary
 
The Wildcats (0-3, 0-0 SWAC) opened the evening connecting on only 7 of 29 shots in the first half, and only one of ten three pointers. Utah (3-0, 0-0 PAC-12) was quick to capitalize on an off night for B-CU, jumping out to a 15-4 lead and hardly looking back. The Utes led at the break, 45-23.
 
Things were a bit closer in the second half after a late Wildcats run. After only one made three-pointer in the first half, the Wildcats made four of nine three pointers in the second half. The Wildcats played to within nine points of Utah in the second half, but ultimately fell to the Utes, 86-55
 
Damani Does it All
 
Only one Wildcat found his stroke Monday night: Damani McEntire finished the night with 20 points – a Wildcat-best so far in 2021 – on 6-8 shooting, including 2-2 from behind the arc and 6-6 from the free throw line. McEntire was a force in every facet of the game, dishing out four assists, grabbing five rebounds, and swiping seven steals.
 
The Rest of the Wildcats
 
Marcus Garrett added nine points on 4-9 shooting including a three-pointer. He also grabbed five rebounds, three of them offensive, and a steal.
 
The rest of the Wildcats roster contributed a total of 26 points on a combined 10-45 from the field and 2-14 from three
 
Game Notes

• B-CU's free throw woes continued Monday night – The Wildcats made 10-16 shots from the charity stripe, while Utah made 21-24,
• McEntire's seven steals alone out-performed the entire Utah roster, which only totalled five steals in the game.
• The Utah bench outscored Wildcats reserves, 33-13.
• After 20 turnovers in their last game, the Wildcats limited mistakes to only 10 turnovers and forced 13 Utah turnovers.
• The Wildcats scored 17 points off turnovers in the game – Utah only scored seven
• B-CU limited Utah to only six fast-break points

Up Next

The Wildcats will return home to Daytona Beach this weekend … almost. The 2021 Sunshine Slam now moves to a central location only two miles from the B-CU campus at the nearby Ocean Center. The Wildcats will open the festivities at the Ocean Center with a matchup with Bryant University on Saturday, Nov. 20 at noon.