GAME NOTES: The Snow College men's basketball team will begin its final road trip of the season Thursday as it takes on Colorado Northwestern Community College. The Badgers will then take on Salt Lake Community College Saturday to wrap up its road slate of games.
 
The Badgers are coming off an 83-73 victory against Utah State University Eastern last Thursday. With the win, Snow College won the regular season conference title and tied a program record, winning its 18^th consecutive game.
 
The Badgers defeated USUE for the third time this season. This is the first time since the 2021-22 season the Badgers have swept the season series against the Eagles.
 
Following the victory, Isaac Garrett (So./Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS) was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Garrett recorded his fifth double-double of the season as he finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. It is the tenth time this season a member of the team has received the award.
 
The Badgers shot a lower field goal percentage against the Eagles. Snow College has been outshot in seven of their 11 conference games this season but have won all seven of those games.
 
Despite being outshot in seven of 11 conference games, the Badgers are fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage. As a team, Snow College is shooting at a 51.7 percent clip during the year. They are also inside the top 10 in 3-point percentage (38.4) and are the best free-throw shooting team in the nation at 77.8 percent.
 
The Spartans own a 16-11 overall record this season and are 2-10 in conference play. They have lost four games in a row entering Thursday's matchup. The Badgers are 53-2 all time against CNCC and have won 23 straight games against the Spartans.
 
SLCC is 17-10 this season with a 5-7 record within the SWAC. After defeating the College of Southern Idaho last Thursday, the Bruins suffered a 100-83 loss against North Idaho College Saturday. With a win against SLCC Saturday, Snow College would sweep the season series against the Bruins for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Tying a record that has stood for nearly 50 years, the No. 1 Snow College men's basketball team secured its 18^th consecutive victory against Utah State University Eastern Thursday in Price. The Badgers have tied the record for most consecutive wins, set during the 1977-78 season.
 
Snow College entered the standalone matchup off the heels of a pair of victories last weekend. The Badgers earned a 98-84 victory against Colorado Northwestern Community College and a 91-86 overtime win against Salt Lake Community College.
 
The Badgers exploded out of the gates. Over the first 10 minutes, they shot 13-16 (.813) from the field and 7-9 (.778). Chance Trujillo (Fr./Kaysville, Utah/Davis HS) splashed each of his first four 3-point attempts during a three-minute stretch.
 
Snow College took their largest lead of the game as McCaden Adams (Fr./Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS) hit a 3-pointer to give the Badgers a 34-16 advantage midway through the period. The hot shooting would quickly cool off, and the Eagles would make a run to finish the period.
 
Over the final ten minutes of the first half, the Badgers shot just 1-16 from the field and missed all eight of their attempts from beyond the arc. USUE capitalized by going on a 23-5 run while shooting 9-13 from the field and 3-6 from distance. The run leveled the score at 39 heading into the halftime break.
 
The Badgers' struggles continued into the second half. USUE made five of their first seven shots, including two 3-pointers to start the half to build a 51-46 lead – the largest lead of the game for the Eagles. Snow College turned on the jets and regained control over the next seven minutes.
 
The Badgers used a 23-6 run, which included 10 points from Isaac Garrett (So./Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS), to take a 69-57 lead with just over seven minutes to play. Snow College held a reasonable lead before the Eagles made one final push.
 
A quick 5-0 burst from USUE cut the Badgers' lead to just five with 3:30 to play. Garrett took over during the final minutes of the game. He scored each of the final eight points to help fend off the Eagles. The Badgers went on to claim their 18^th straight victory, 83-73.
 
Garrett led the Badgers offensively as he recorded his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Trujillo added 16 points on 5-8/4-7 shooting, while Isaac Finlinson (So./St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) put in 10 points to aid in the victory.
 
With the win, the Badgers improve to 25-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 mark within conference play. As a result, Snow College claimed the Scenic West Athletic Conference regular season title and the right to host the Region 18 tournament at the end of the regular season.
 
UP NEXT: Snow College will return home and wrap up its regular season against CSI and NIC beginning next Thursday. Tipoff against the Golden Eagles will take place at 7:00 p.m., with Saturday's game slated to start at 3:00 p.m. Both games will be played inside the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.