Utah 82-57 Iran

The first quarter started with Almond scoring the first two points of the game, quickly followed by 2 for Iran. Tight defense and several missed shots by both teams left the scored tied at 4 at the 7 minute mark, but foul shots put Iran up by 2. A fast break by Mohammad Samad Nikkhah Bahrami gave Iran another 2. Midway through the first quarter the Iranian team led Utah 10-5. Iran kept the heat on to lead 15-9 with 2 and one-half minutes left. Tough, physical play yielded 9 fouls for each team. The Jazz were cold from the free throw line and struggled with missed shots, while the Iranian team shot a better percentage from the foul line. The quarter ended with a three pointer off the hands of Utah’s Brian Greene, to put the score at Iran 22, Utah 14. Bahrami was Iran’s leading scorer with 11 points.

Fuller began the second quarter with 4 points. Utah’s aggressive play put the score at 24-20 Iran, early in the quarter. Utah continued to close the point deficit with good defense, forcing turnovers, and creating shots. The Jazz tenacious play put them on a 17-4 run. Iran’s second squad was unable to keep pace with the Jazz, who pushed the score to 35-26 Utah, with 2 minutes on the clock. Due to the injured player rule, Fesenko was chosen by Iran to shoot a three foul shot making 2 of 3. A ferocious last-minute floor-pushing hustle by Quaintnace failed to produce a buzzer-beater. The Jazz finished the half to lead 38-29, shooting 42.1% from the field to Iran’s 45.8%. Utah had only 5 turnovers to Iran’s 10. Leading scorers: Bahrami with 11 for Iran and Almond with 8 for the Jazz. Kevin Kruger sustained an ankle sprain and would return to the game.

The third quarter began with Iran scoring 2 points. Almond responded with a flying dunk for 2. Javad Davari made a steal and turned it into 2 points for Iran. The fast-paced play continued by both teams to yield a score of 41-35 Jazz, with 6 and one-half minutes on the clock, when Iran called time out. Using his quick and agile style, Quaintance made a steal, a dunk and a free throw. Iran’s team gave good effort, but struggled to make plays that yielded points and committed 6 fouls to Utah’s 2. At 2:56 on the clock the score was the Jazz 52, Iran 41. Koufos got a dunk with less than one minute to play. Bahrami scored from the outside, but the Jazz took charge at the other end of the court, closing the third quarter with a 61-45 lead over the Iranian National team. The Jazz shot 48% to Iran’s 45.9%.

The aggressive play stepped up in the fourth quarter, both teams turning on the hustle, into an almost frenzied game. All the while, the Iranian fans chanted and cheered for their team. Utah had a 20 point lead with just over 5 minutes left, when Iran scored a three-pointer, putting the score at 71-54, Utah. During action under the Utah basket, the team failed to get the ball in after several successive attempts, and Fuller was fouled. The Iranian team was starting to look tired, but continued in the fast-paced play. Utah’s Kevin Lyde scored 2 with a put-back. Defensive play on both ends kept scoring down to 77-56 with 2:05 to play. Korelev scored three for Utah wit seconds on the clock and the gamed ended 82-57 Utah. After the game ended, the Iranian team threw red roses into the crowd, and the chants, flag waving and music continued from the enthusiastic Iranian fans.
Utah shot 34 points in the paint, Iran 24. Second chance points scored: Utah 18, Iran 9. Leading scorers were Mohanmmad Nikkhah with 23 for Iran, while Utah spread the lead; Hiram Fuller 11, and Morris Almond 10.