No. 1 Arizona Overpowers Utah At The Huntsman Center
Jan 3, 2026, 3:56 PM
Jan 3, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) takes a shot against the Utah Utes during the first half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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SALT LAKE CITY — The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats came into Salt Lake City immediately imposed their will, using size, speed, and relentless pressure to seize control and never let go in a 97–78 win over the Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The gap between Utah and No. 1 Arizona wasn’t subtle, and it wasn’t schematic — it was physical. From the opening possessions, Arizona looked bigger, faster, and stronger at nearly every spot on the floor, turning athletic advantages into paint points, second chances, and defensive stops.
Utah competed, but the Wildcats’ depth, size, and explosiveness exposed the difference between a program building toward contention and one already living there.
Arizona overwhelmed Utah from the jump
Following Don McHenry’s opening basket, Arizona responded with three straight baskets, sprinting out to a 9–2 lead in the opening three minutes and forcing an early Alex Jensen timeout. By the first media break (15:38), the Wildcats had already stretched the margin to 14–4 — a preview of the physical and athletic gap that defined the afternoon.
Utah looked overwhelmed early. Four turnovers in the opening minutes turned into easy Arizona points, and the Wildcats’ size showed immediately around the rim. Arizona built the lead to 27–12 by the second media timeout as Utah struggled to initiate offense or finish possessions.
Terrence Brown helped steady things. The sophomore guard attacked confidently and scored six early points, creating shots Utah badly needed. Keanu Dawes followed with a tough layup through contact — his first points nearly 10 minutes into the game — and the Utes finally found some traction.
Utah’s best stretch came midway through the first half. Dawes, Brown, and McHenry generated quality looks, trimming the deficit to 36–26 by the third media timeout and pulling the Huntsman Center crowd fully into the game. Dawes added a dunk off an Obomate Abbey assist to make it 36–28 after the break.
But momentum vanished once Utah’s second unit hit the floor.
Arizona responded with a burst of interior scoring and offensive rebounds, rebuilding the lead to 45–28 in just a few possessions. Jakhi Howard stopped the bleeding with a putback and a free throw, and Utah briefly cut the margin to 50–37.
Arizona closed the half decisively.
Second half provided moments, good & bad for the Runnin’ Utes
The Wildcats entered the locker room up 58–39 after shooting 61% from the field in the first half and scoring 30 points in the paint. Utah never fully recovered from the opening stretch.
The Utes showed fight after halftime, matching Arizona through the first four minutes and keeping the margin manageable early. But once again, Arizona answered immediately, pushing the lead back to 22 and settling into control.
Arizona dominated the interior throughout the second half — scoring in the post, extending possessions with offensive rebounds, and contesting shots at the rim. Tobe Awaka proved to be a constant mismatch, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Brown and Dawes continued to battle. Brown finished with a game-high 24 points, while Dawes added 15 points and eight rebounds. McHenry chipped in 15 of his own. But outside of those three, Utah struggled to match Arizona’s physicality, depth, and execution.
Arizona led for over 38 minutes and cruised to a 97–78 win, improving its case as the nation’s top team while exposing how far Utah still has to go.
