The Runnin’ Utes fell just short in a hard-fought Mid-South Showdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, losing 78-73 Sunday evening at a neutral site in Memphis. Despite holding an 11-point halftime lead, Utah couldn’t withstand the Bulldogs’ dominance at the free-throw line and clutch shooting in the closing minutes. The loss, which drops the Utes to 3-1 on the season, was a frustrating outcome in a game where they had many chances to best their SEC opponent.
The Utes came out firing in the first half against Mississippi State, playing with energy in their most important game of the year so far. Utah’s defense was relentless in the first half, stifling the Bulldogs and holding them to an ice-cold 22.9% shooting from the field. Mississippi State struggled to find any offensive rhythm, going scoreless on their final 14 attempts before the break. This defensive dominance, coupled with Utah’s efficient scoring, helped the Utes secure a commanding 39-28 lead heading into halftime.
The second half told a different story, as Mississippi State flipped the script fast with a 7-0 run to open the half. Despite standout performances — Ezra Ausar leading Utah with 15 points, Mason Madsen adding 14, Keanu Dawes contributing 13 points and 12 rebounds and Miro Little chipping in 10 — the defense was unable to stop the Bulldogs, who started knocking down their shots with five second half threes.
Takeaways:
The Utes showed resilience despite Gabe Madsen’s shooting struggles, as he didn’t hit his first three-pointer until only three minutes remained in the game, needing 10 attempts to get there. Even with their leading scorer out of rhythm, Utah kept the game competitive and led for large portions, proving their depth and determination.
Mississippi State’s overwhelming free-throw advantage was a decisive factor, with the Bulldogs sinking 16 more free throws than the Utes. Utah attempted 19 fewer shots at the line and faced foul trouble throughout the second half, making it difficult to maintain their defensive intensity.
The next Runnin’ Utes game will be on Friday, Nov. 22, against Utah Tech at 2:30 p.m. in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Students get in free if they bring their UIDs.
