Utah Basketball Unable To Overcome Huge First Half Deficit, Fall to Saint Mary’s 72-63

SALT LAKE CITY—It was a tale of two halves, but after a strong second half, Craig Smith and the Utes fell short and lost to Saint Mary’s 72-63.

Utah fell behind 39-22 by halftime after a brutal first half. They put up a valiant effort in the second frame but not enough to get the job done.

The Utes only had three in double-figures, led by Gabe Madsen with 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting.

Starting Five

For the third consecutive game, the Runnin’ Utes starting lineup featured Miro Little, Gabe Madsen, Mike Sharavjamts, Ezra Ausar, and Lawson Lovering.

This game also featured the debut of Caleb Lohner, who transferred to Utah from Baylor this offseason. Lohner played tight end for the football squad and was finally able to play for the basketball program.

Saint Mary’s Vs Utah, First Half

Gaels controlled the tip-off and scored the first bucket of the game. Gabe Madsen responded with a layup on the other end giving both teams buckets on their first possessions.

Ezra Ausar drew contact at the rim and went to the free throw line, he made 1-of-2.

G. Madsen then knocked down a three after finding space in the corner to make it 6-4, Utah.

Saint Mary’s responded with a 5-0 spurt to reclaim a 9-6 advantage. Over the span of a few possessions, both Ausar and Lovering drew fouls and went to the line. Ausar missed both, while Lovering knocked down 1-of-2 from the line. More importantly, St Mary’s Mitchell Saxen picked up an early second foul.

The Gaels continued to create good looks and built a 14-7 lead. However, Utah created a quality look of their own for Mason Madsen. He knocked down a three from the top on the other end to make it 14-10.

MTO 14:20 – Saint Mary’s 14, Utah 10

After the break, Utah’s lineup included Hunter Erickson, Gabe and Mason Madsen, Jake Wahlin, and Caleb Lohner.

Utah had a couple of empty possessions to start this stretch, while the perimeter defense gave the Gaels a couple of open looks from three by helping too much inside. That allowed the Gaels to build a 21-10 lead.

After a scoring drought of roughly two and a half minutes, Keanu Dawes threw down a dunk to make it 21-12. After a Gaels turnover, the game hit the second media timeout.

MTO 11:29 – Saint Mary’s 21, Utah 12

After the second media timeout, Utah returned to the floor with Erickson, Sharavjamts, Dawes, Ausar, and Lovering.

Erickson was able to get into the lane and draw a foul. After the whistle, the starting lineup returned to the floor with G. Madsen and Little checking back in.

Unfortunately for Utah, after the Dawes dunk ended one scoring drought, it was just the start of another. Utah went scoreless for about three minutes, as the Gaels built a 25-12 advantage.

At this point in the game, the Utes were 1-of-5 on layups and turned the ball over six times.

Finally, Little got a free run to the rim from the wing and threw down a two-handed dunk.

On the ensuing possession, Utah had a couple of shots at the rim and were unable to convert.

To this point in the game, the Gaels simply dominated in the little details.

MTO 7:46 – Saint Mary’s 29, Utah 14

After three free throws for the Gaels, Utah’s defensive intensity was noticeably higher during this stretch.

After a minute of action, Utah forced a turnover, leading to a dunk for Ausar in transition. Utah then got another stop and Little took it the other way for a layup, which made it 32-18. A third stop and Ausar had a putback dunk off an M. Madsen miss to make 32-20.

Little then drew a foul and knocked down both in a 1+1 opportunity.

Unfortunately for the Utes, the offense went cold yet again. To this point in the game, the Utes were 5-of-16 on shots at the rim (layups+dunks) and 8-of-32 overall from the field.

MTO 1:01 – Saint Mary’s 39, Utah 22

After a few empty possessions, which included a few misses at the rim for Utah, the two teams went into half at 39-22.

Saint Mary’s Vs Utah, Second Half

After getting a stop to start the half, the Utes began their second half offense with a missed layup.

However, M. Madsen knocked down a three for Utah’s first score of the second half.

Then, the Gaels scored a basket at the rim and Lovering was called for a foul. Craig Smith was then whistled for technical, which gave them two free throws. They extended tehri lead to 46-25 after that.

G. Madsen then knocked down a three at the top, followed by a stop and layup on the other end by Little, to make it 46-30.

Utah gave up an open three in the corner, M. Madsen was fouled and knocked down both free throws.

The Utes got a stop and Little took it the other way, where he was fouled on the drive.

MTO 15:40 – Saint Mary’s 49, Utah 32

After the break, Litte got a layup to go off the inbound. After a couple of missed Gaels free throws, Little took it the other way and lobbed one up for Lohner, who threw it down with authority.

On the next possession, G. Madsen got some space on the left side and knocked down a three.

Then the defense forced a turnover, which G. Madsen took the other way in transition, got to the rim for a layup and was fouled. The crowd erupted and Randy Bennett called timeout.

After the break, Madsen missed the free throw. However, he knocked down a three on the ensuing possession which made it 49-44.

After a Saint Mary’s layup, Lohner had a putback at the rim to go, which made it 51-46. The Utes were on a 15-2 run within five minutes of game time.

MTO 11:26 – Saint Mary’s 51, Utah 46

After the break, a G. Madsen 3-pointer was reviewed and changed to a 2-point basket. That made it 51-45.

After a couple of scoreless possessions, Zach Keller got a jump hook to go.

Lohner with a drive from the right side and a finish like he was tight end trying to score at the goal line. He got the bucket to go but missed the free throw. 55-49

MTO 8:00 – Saint Mary’s 55, Utah 49

After the third media break, the Gaels missed two free throws and Utah took it the other way. After working the offense a little, Little was fouled underneath, which sent him to the line for 1+1. He made both free throws, which made it 55-51.

A couple of possession later, Little was fouled up top and went to the line again. He made both throws, which made it a 57-53. Utah successfully trapped in the corner and Saint Mary’s called timeout.

After the timeout, Lohner converted a layup of of a beautiful dish from Little in the pick-n-roll. He was fouled but missed the free throw and it was 57-55.

Utah had all the momentum and then Saint Mary’s knocked down a three to make it 60-55 and Utah turned it over on the next possession.

MTO 3:31 – Saint Mary’s 60, Utah 55

After the break, the Utes got a stop on the defensive end. That led to Little pushing the ball ahead to Lovering, who snuck out and got an easy dunk to make it 60-57.

After a Gaels bucket, Little then worked Lovering in the pick-n-roll and threw him a lob, which he threw down, 62-59.

Unfortunately, the Gaels knocked down a three in the corner and Wahlin was called for a foul as well. After the free throw, it was 66-59 game with 1:57 left in the game.

After a timeout, Utah got a quick bucket as M. Madsen backcut to the rim for a reverse layup, 66-61.

Utah gave up a tough bucket after nearly a full shot clock of good defense, which gave the Gaels a 68-61 advantage. The Utes responded with a quick attempt by Lohner at the rim and Lovering was able to putback the miss, that made it 68-63. Utah called a timeout.

Paulius Murauskas provided the dagger three to put Saint Mary’s up 71-63 with :28 left.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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