The University of Utah’s men’s basketball team officially turned the page into a new era Saturday afternoon, opening Big 12 conference play against the top-ranked team in the nation. The opener proved to be a difficult one, as No. 1 Arizona rolled past the Runnin’ Utes 97–78 inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Jan. 3.
Utah entered the game with momentum from nonconference play and briefly grabbed the early edge when Don McHenry knocked down a jumper to open the game. That advantage was short-lived. Arizona responded immediately with a dominant surge, using a double-digit run to seize control and set the tone against a Utah team, still adjusting to the intensity of Big 12 competition.
First half
“To start the game, I think we were a little hesitant,” Utah head coach Alex Jensen said. “I think that might have been the biggest game I think a lot of our guys have played in. But I give our guys credit, I think we never gave up, we kept fighting.”
The Wildcats’ early burst ballooned into a 27–10 lead midway through the first half, fueled by efficient shooting, fast break points, and physical play in the paint. Utah showed resilience, however, trimming the margin to single digits twice late in the first half. A sustained push cut the deficit to 34–26 with 7:41 remaining, and once again to 36–28 moments later, giving the Huntsman Center crowd reason for optimism.
Arizona quickly reminded everyone why it sits at the top of the national rankings. The Wildcats closed the half by hitting nine of their final 10 shots, overwhelming Utah’s defense and taking a commanding 58–39 lead into the break.
Second half
Utah emerged from halftime with renewed energy. A fast break dunk from Terrence Brown ignited a second-half run that sliced Arizona’s advantage to 64–46. The Utes continued to chip away, piecing together a 12–3 stretch over just two minutes to pull within 73–58 — their closest margin of the second half.
Arizona never allowed the game to slip out of its grasp. The Wildcats answered each Utah push with poised offense and balanced scoring, eventually pulling away for a 19-point victory in their Big 12 opener.
At one point, Arizona led by as many as 24 points, powered by strong performances across the lineup. Tobe Awaka and Jaden Bradley each scored 18 points, with Awaka adding 12 rebounds for a double-double. Five Wildcats finished in double figures as Arizona out-rebounded Utah 43–30 and scored 52 points in the paint.
“I told our guys we can beat a lot of teams by scoring 78 points a game, but you’re not going to beat a lot of teams by giving up 58 in the first half,” Jensen said, while describing the game as a “valuable lesson.”
Analysis
For Utah, Brown was the standout, leading all scores with 26 points while adding six assists in four rebounds. It marked his fifth consecutive game with at least 20 points. McHenry and Keanu Dawes each contributed 15 points as the Utes placed three players in double figures against the nation’s top team.
Utah shot 44% from the field and was nearly perfect at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 12 attempts for a season-best 91.7%. The Utes also matched Arizona point for point in the second half, scoring 39 apiece after a difficult opening 20 minutes.
Utah (8-6, 0-1 Big 12) now shifts its focus to the road as conference play continues Wednesday, Jan. 7, in Boulder against the University of Colorado. The matchup carries a long and competitive history dating back to 2003, with Utah holding a narrow 16–15 overall advantage in the series. The Utes are 5–9 all-time in Boulder, but enter the game riding a one-game winning streak against the Buffaloes after a 72–59 home win last season.
Over the last 10 meetings, Colorado has held a 6–4 edge, and recent trips to Boulder have proven challenging for Utah. The last three times the Utes have traveled to Boulder, they have all resulted in a loss. Still, the Utes will look to build on their second-half performance against Arizona as they search for their first Big 12 win inside the CU Events Center.
