Utah Basketball Hands No. 14 BYU Cougars First Loss Of Season
Dec 9, 2023, 7:15 PM | Updated: Dec 11, 2023, 12:06 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes men’s basketball team fought off a late comeback to defeat the No. 14 BYU Cougars in the Huntsman Center.
After leading by 14 at halftime, Utah pulled out a narrow four-point victory.
Gabe Madsen led the way for Utah with 17 points and five made threes. BYU’s leading scorer, Jaxson Robinson, also had 17.
THAT’S A DUB‼️
🔴- 73
🔵- 69#GOUTES pic.twitter.com/anMib5jbFh— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
First Half
Utah controls the tip to start this rivalry game. Cole Bajema gets the #Utes on the board first.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Getting us going, @colebajema22 for the quick 2‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/0jDX6aZiDP
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
After BYU responded and took their first lead of the game, the Utes rattled off a 10-0 run.
Excuse me sir@ballerbranden35 with the 🔨‼️ pic.twitter.com/kbVa4gkcwl
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
Gabe Madsen made two threes to put Utah up 12-3.
HE’S COOKIN‼️@GabeMadsen53 for the triple again!
🔴- 12
🔵- 3#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/fAWWIGlOwR— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
This place is ROCKING!#BYUvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/mVKQNm1eI4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
At the first break the #Utes have a 12-3 lead over the #Cougars.
Utah is currently 5-8 from the field and 2-3 from the three.
Shots have not dropped for BYU yet sitting at 1-9 from the field and 1-5 from the three.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Dallin Hall’s missed layup under the basket was kind of a tone-setter for #BYU. Let’s see how they respond coming out of the first break.#BYUHoops
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 10, 2023
work zone pic.twitter.com/k5hAmYhANo
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 10, 2023
The Utes took a double-digit lead after five minutes off of a three from Bajema.
From deep🎯 @colebajema22 with the quick answer! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/7b3HG1uwXi
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
The Cougars began closing the lead but Madsen’s hot shooting kept the Utes out in front.
MEDIA TIMEOUT
Utah enjoying a 20-12 lead early in this contest with rival BYU. #Cougs starting to settle down a bit and get some shots down, but not enough to close the gap yet.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Ten minutes through the first half, Utah led by seven, 22-15.
Just as BYU started creeping closer, Branden Carlson threw down back-to-back dunks to put momentum back on Utah’s side.
Branden Carlson with back-to-back slam dunks- the most recent one off of a BYU turnover.
Utah with a 26-17 lead with 6:42 left in the first half.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN‼️
off the @GabeMadsen53 steal, @ballerbranden35 with the reverse🔨‼️ pic.twitter.com/JKbSxlBvk9
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
BYU’s bench unit kept them in the game in the first half. 12 of the Cougars’ first 19 points came from players off the bench.
After a small run led by Trevin Knell, BYU closed the Utah lead to five.
Utah’s Ben Carlson and Keba Keita extended the lead to nine with free throws and a quick bucket.
Big to big, over the top‼️@Keba_Keita_13 throws it DOWN off the feel from @ballerbranden35 #GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/AVFeSxgJdK
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
Utah reopened a double-digit lead but it was shortlived as Jaxson Robinson drained a three-pointer.
Jaxon Robinson sinks the three for BYU out of the break.
BYU closes the gap a bit on Utah, 34-26.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
The Utes and Cougars began trading baskets as halftime approached.
Another Keita dunk was followed by a Richie Saunders three. Utah showed that they have range too as Hunter Erickson splashed a three as he was fouled.
The four-point play put Utah up by 11, 40-29.
MAKE THAT 4@hunterericksonn for the 4-pt play! #GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/MbcukM2ddw
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
Back-to-back makes from Carlson gave the Utes their largest lead of the game at 14.
BRANDEN. CARLSON. 🎯#GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/YCGk3TyuSF
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
Utah would hold onto this lead going into the break, 45-31.
HALFTIME
Utah goes into the half with a 45-31 lead over BYU.#BYUvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/98Fp5CkzuH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Second Half
Dallin Hall with a big three for BYU.
Utah still holds the lead 49-36.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Lawson Lovering on cleanup duty for the Utes. Pretty crazy shot.
Utah leads 51-40 over BYU with 16:22 left to play.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Cleanup on the alley-oop attempt, @lawson_lovering is there!!#GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/rEmTMwraOB
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
BYU closed the Utah lead to single digits with a 9-2 run.
Lovering continued to make his impact as he found Carlson who knocked down a jumper.
Lawson Lovering with the block for the Utes before the media timeout.
Utah up 53-42 over BYU.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Madsen continued his great performance as he nailed a three to put Utah up by 12.
He made four of his first six attempts from deep.
Ball movement ➡️ @GabeMadsen53 triple🎯#GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/9vCndjjH8B
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
It felt like every time BYU knocked some points off the Utes’ lead, Utah came back with a stop and a make of their own.
“With the muscle!” 💪
Worster takes it all the way‼️#GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/BhErFZdY5Y
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
2X the charm for BYU.
Utah holds a 58-48 lead.#BYUvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/d6hpMM4PaM
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
With ten minutes left in regulation, Utah led by eight, 58-50.
The Cougars closed the lead to six leading up to the next timeout.
BYU is now within six after the Utes have gone nearly five minutes without a score.
Utah still leads 58-52 with 7:44 on the clock.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Dallin Hall and Atiki Ally Atiki have four fouls with 7:44 remaining.#BYU #BYUHoops
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 10, 2023
BYU now within three of Utah.
It’s almost like these two teams have reversed course in the second half- the Cougs can’t miss and the Utes can’t get anything to fall.
Utah with the narrow 59-56 lead with 5:16 left to play.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Cougs within 3
BYU 56 – Utah 59 | 5:16 2H pic.twitter.com/2myKaMTLRB
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 10, 2023
After Rollie Worster stopped the bleeding with a layup, BYU guard Jaxson Robinson made a right-wing three and was fouled.
He couldn’t convert the four-point play and Utah retained a two-point lead.
#BYU fans showed up to the Huntsman Center and they’ve been hyped from the opening tip. Great energy in the building tonight.
These games in the Big 12 next year? Going to be great.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 10, 2023
At the 3:23 mark in the game the #Utes remain in the lead 66-61 but the #Cougs keep making pushes to try and take this game over.
Have a feeling this may be a wild finish.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Erickson slid around the defense and got a layup to go through contact following the timeout.
BYU cut the lead to six with a 1/2 result at the free-throw line.
With the clutch 2 inside, @hunterericksonn‼️#GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/zROF5F5tBx
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
After a great stop, Utah began wasting time with the ball.
However, they settled for a deep, contested three with five seconds on the shot clock.
It continued to get sloppy for the Utes. They fouled on a three-point attempt the next time down.
The Cougars closed the lead to four with 1:26 left.
BYU gets a trip to the line that puts the game within four with 1:26 left to play.
Utah with a 68-64 lead.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Madsen found the bottom of the net on a stepback three to put the Utes up seven with a minute left.
GABE. MADSEN. MONEY. 🎯@GabeMadsen53 #GoUtes | 📺 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/3QOQxUqmO1
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 10, 2023
Back on defense, the Utes fouled on another three. Aly Khalifa stepped up to the line and made all three.
BYU then forced a turnover in the backcourt and found Saunders who made his second three-pointer.
Utah led by two, 71-69, with 40 seconds left.
What a game!
Utah still narrowly leads 71-69 with 39:6 left to play.
Buckle up.#BYUvsUTAH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 10, 2023
Utah couldn’t score but they wasted 30 seconds.
BYU had a chance to tie the game or win with 10 seconds left.
The Cougars couldn’t hold onto the ball and a save attempt went right into the hands of the Utes.
Worster stepped up to the line where he knocked down both and sealed the game, 73-69.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host for the Jazz Notes podcast and a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.
