Shorthanded Utes Can’t Get Past Stanford, Three-Game Winning Streak Snapped

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Utes basketball team had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 73-66 loss to Stanford in Palo Alto on Saturday night.

Timmy Allen led the Utes with 18 points, including 14 in the second half in their loss to Stanford. He also pulled down 7 rebounds, while shooting 4-of-8 from the floor. Alfonso Plummer added 14 points. Branden Carlson notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Spencer Jones had 17 points to lead the Cardinal. Oscar da Silva contributed 13 points before fouling out with 4 minutes left in the game. Jaiden Delaire and Michael O’Connell each scored 11 points.

Utah was shorthanded as they were without starting point guard Rylan Jones for the second straight game with a shoulder injury. Then they announced that forward Mikael Jantunen was leaving the team to compete with the Finnish national team at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifier.

FINAL@UtahMBB's three-game winning streak is over.#GoUtes #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/A1VyJfWQKW

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

Hot Start, Cold Finish In First Half For Utes Against Stanford

Utah got off to a great start with a 12-2 run. Alfonso Plummer had 8 of those points before cooling off moments later. The Cardinal later answered with a 7-0 run of their own before Branden Carlson knocked down a three-pointer. Then Stanford went on another 7-0 which made it 14-3 over a 6-minute stretch. Utah went over 4 minutes without a bucket that helped Stanford’s latest run reach 11-0.

Utah ended the first half shooting just 30 percent from the field and 25 percent from downtown. Stanford made 48 percent of their field goals and 40 percent of their threes.

Oscar da Silva and Alfonso Plummer each led their teams with 8 points in the first half. Stanford took a 34-22 lead into the halftime break.

HALFTIME@UtahMBB made just 2 of their last 11 field goals.#GoUtes #Pac12Hoops

📸: John Lozano pic.twitter.com/bDtdzjFJpN

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

Utes Can’t Trim Deficit, Fall To Stanford

The Runnin’ Utes had a hard time trimming the Stanford double-digit lead as they were able to get to within 10 points at certain points in the second half. They eventually trimmed the deficit to six with under one minute left.

When Utah was making any attempts to get back into the game, Spencer Jones would knock down a three-pointer. He made five of them on Saturday night.

The Runnin’ Utes dropped their record to 9-8 overall and 6-7 in Pac-12 play. They will be back on the road to face Oregon State on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.