GAME NOTES: The host Utah Utes will take on the Texas-Pan American Broncs at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Wednesday night as part of the University of Utah Thanksgiving Tournament.

This round-robin tournament will have UTPA, Utah, North Dakota and Alabama State all play one another on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

UTPA is coming off a lackluster 2013-14 season (9-23) but has gotten the new campaign off to a flying start, winning three straights to start a season for the first time since 2006-07. The Broncs most recently downed Texas A&M- Kingsville at home on Saturday, 82-77.

After suffering a tough 56-53 road loss to nationally-ranked San Diego State on Nov. 18, Utah improved to 2-1 following a dominant 88-42 triumph over UC Riverside last Friday. This event is part of a five-game homestand for the Utes, who have won 22 of their last 24 in Salt Lake City.

This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs.

The Broncs saw a lead as large as 13 disappear their last time out, as they trailed TAMU-Kingsville by one inside of five minutes remaining, but they quickly regained control of the contest with a 9-2 run. They shot 52 percent from the field in the win (including 8-of-15 from 3-point range) while holding their opponent to only 36.5 percent shooting, but they nearly cost themselves by allowing TAMU-Kingsville to collect 20 offensive rebounds. Janari Joesaar was the spark plug with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Shaquille Hines netted 16 points, while Shaquille Boga and Shaun Noriega added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

UTPA outshoots its opponents from the field this season, 48 percent to 36.3 percent, but despite that discrepancy it only owns a slight +4.7 scoring margin, likely due to its trouble in the rebounding (-2.3) and turnover (-2.3) battles. Joesaar is one of the best players in the Western Athletic Conference and has proven so with 21.3 ppg, 13.0 rpg and 3.7 apg. Hines (15.3 ppg) and Boga (14.0 ppg) are great complementary options.

The Utes never broke much of a sweat in their most recent game, running out to a 48-21 lead at intermission before cruising to the 46-point win. They shot nearly 52 percent from the field and 21-of-28 from the foul line while holding UCR to less than 30 percent shooting. Kyle Kuzma led the way with 19 points in just 20 minutes off the bench, shooting 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Delon Wright (13 points), Jordan Loveridge (12) and Brekkott Chapman (11) all reached double figures as well, while Isaiah Wright got the playmakers involved with eight assists.

The dominant performance certainly skewed Utah's season stats through three games. It shoots 47.7 percent from the field (including 41.2 percent from 3- point range) en route to 75.7 ppg while allowing only 55.7 on the other end of the floor. Its large rebounding margin (+13.7) is a big reason for its success as well. Eight players put up at least 6.0 ppg, with Loveridge (11.7 ppg), Brandon Taylor (11.3 ppg), Wright (11.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.3 apg) and Jakob Poeltl (9.7 ppg, 8,7 rpg, 3.0 bpg) the most consistent pieces.

UTPA's confidence is high right now after its hottest start in recent memory, but it'll be in for a rude awakening heading into hostile territory to play an imposing Utah squad. The Utes should be in for another blowout victory.