The Utah men’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a resounding 83-62 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday evening at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, marking their first Big 12 Conference win.
The Runnin’ Utes’ offense rediscovered its rhythm, shooting a much-improved 55.6% from the field — a key factor that had been missing in their previous Big 12 games. Junior Ezra Ausar led the charge with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting while also adding four rebounds.
The Runnin’ Utes established control early against the Cowboys, starting the game red hot both on offense and defense. Offensively, Utah found its rhythm, shooting 46.7% (14-of-30) from the field in the first half, including a perfect 7-for-7 mark from the free-throw line. Ausar ignited the offense early, scoring 12 of the team’s first 21 points. Defensively, Utah imposed its will, holding the Cowboys without a field goal for a significant stretch of 4:26.
Lawson Lovering and Mike Sharavjamts each contributed 7 points, while Keanu Dawes provided a spark off the bench with 6 quick points, helping Utah secure a 37-26 lead at halftime.
Utah carried its momentum into the second half, opening the period with six unanswered points. Their sharpshooting from the free-throw line continued, with their first miss not coming until the 9:06 mark. A layup by Ausar with eight minutes remaining extended Utah’s lead to a game-high 26 points (74-48). Jake Wahlin delivered a perfect shooting performance in the second half, scoring all 16 of his career-high points. Starting for the first time since the Utah Tech game on Nov. 22, Wahlin went 5-for-5 from the field, including three three-pointers, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
Takeaways
The Utes earned a confidence-boosting victory against Oklahoma State, showcasing several encouraging signs. While there are always areas for refinement, the team’s offensive resurgence was a clear positive, with a much-improved shooting percentage from the field — a welcome development after previous Big 12 games.
The Runnin’ Utes also displayed impressive composure at the free-throw line, converting nearly all of their attempts and demonstrating their ability to execute under pressure. This clutch performance proved crucial in securing the win.
Wahlin’s breakout game, highlighted by a perfect-shooting second half and a career-high 16 points, offered a glimpse into the team’s depth and the potential for versatility in the starting lineup. This win provides valuable momentum for the Runnin’ Utes as they continue their conference schedule, giving them a foundation to build upon and further refine their strengths.
The Utes look to carry this momentum into their next matchup against TCU in Fort Worth this Wednesday (Jan. 15), before facing BYU on the 18th, at the Huntsman.
