By Andy Prest, North Shore News -- Former Handsworth basketball star Tyler Kepkay played a great game in a losing effort as his Utah Utes were bounced from the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament by the Arizona Wildcats.

Kepkay, a senior guard playing in what would be his final collegiate game, scored 19 points on 7-15 shooting, including 3-7 from behind the three-point line, as the fifth-seeded Utes fell 84-71 to the 12th-seeded Arizona Wildcats. It was Kepkay's first crack at the Madness after transferring to Utah before last season.

"Obviously we didn't want to lose but that happens," Kepkay said in a phone interview after returning to Salt Lake City. "It was just a great experience to get to go to the tournament . . . it was crazy."

Kepkay did not start either half but, as was the case all season, played most of the game, totaling 35 minutes. His long-range bombing kept the Utes close as the team struggled with turnovers and star centre Luc Nevill battled foul trouble.

"I made some shots," said the understated Kepkay, chosen as Utah's player of the game for his standout performance.

The game capped off a remarkable college career for Kepkay. As a sophomore in the 2006-07 season the six-foot tall guard earned first team junior college All-America honours while playing for the College of Eastern Utah where he led the nation in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game.

In his two seasons at Utah Kepkay played a key role in their success. This season he was fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 40 per cent from the field, 35 per cent from behind the three-point line and 85 per cent from the free-throw line.

"It was a good experience, another stepping stone in my life," said Kepkay of his time in Utah. "I think all my hard work in high school definitely paid off. I think taking the chance of coming down (to the States) definitely made my game a lot better."

Last summer Kepkay took another huge step, earning a spot on the Canadian national team as they attempted to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. The squad failed to earn an Olympic berth but Kepkay is hoping he will be a part of the team again this summer as they work on qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championships. A spot on a professional team is also something Kepkay said he will pursue this year. For now, however, he is focused on completing his degree in communication this spring at Utah.

View North Shore News article here.