SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Lorenzo Bonam scored a season-high 20 points to help No. 16 Utah hold off Texas Tech 73-63 on Thursday night in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tipoff.
Jordan Loveridge added 18 points for the Utes (3-0), who squandered much of a 12-point, first-half lead but kept turning away every comeback bid from the Red Raiders (1-1) to stay in front.
Utah shot 38 percent, including just 6 of 24 from 3-point range, but finished with a 45-38 rebounding advantage and scored 20 second-chance points.
Devaugntah Williams scored 13 points to lead the Red Raiders, who shot 39 percent.
Texas Tech got within 42-40 before Bonam responded with six straight points to give Utah some breathing room. Utah pushed that lead back out to 13, then got a key 3-pointer from Loveridge near the 2-minute mark after Texas Tech had fought back to make it a two-possession game again.
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