Instant Takeaways: Keanu Dawes’ Aggression Shined In Utah’s Win

SALT LAKE CITY — After spending the early minutes probing a stubborn zone and surviving its own rebounding mistakes, Keanu Dawes and the Runnin’ Utes flipped the switch, shredded the coverage with ruthless efficiency, and turned a competitive first half into a 101–75 runaway at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Utah won the game on efficiency, pace, and decision-making, and the data shows exactly when and how the gap opened.

Utah’s offensive efficiency was impressive

Utah finished the night at 1.53 points per possession, compared to Eastern Washington’s 1.07 PPP. That differential alone explains the margin.

This wasn’t a hot shooting night built on tough jumpers:

• 68.4% overall shooting (39-of-57)

• 52.4% from three (11-of-21)

• 23 assists on 39 made field goals (59% assist rate)

That assist rate matters. It confirms Utah’s offense wasn’t living on isolation or bailout shots — it was generating paint touches first, forcing the zone to collapse, and spraying the ball to shooters on time and on balance.

In the first half alone, Utah posted a staggering 1.67 PPP, shooting 74% from the field and 60% from three. Once the zone cracked, it never recovered.

Keanu Dawes looked… different

Keanu Dawes didn’t just score — he looked like a much more confident player. He was much more assertive and aggressive looking for opportunities to score or setup others for the score.

There was little hesitancy, he made quick assessments and was decisive with action all night long, and Dawes’ finished with the following:

• 21 points

• 9-for-9 shooting

• 9 rebounds

• +18 plus/minus in 29 minutes

Against Eastern Washington’s zone defense, Dawes consistently:

• Occupied the dunker spot or hit the middle of the zone, which created action.

• He handled the ball a lot today, made quick decisions with the ball, attacking the rim or moving the ball to others.

• Punished switches with immediate finishes

When Dawes was decisive, Utah’s offense flowed. When he caught, faced, and attacked in one motion, the defense had no time to rotate. That’s why Utah scored 52 points in the paint, compared to EWU’s 36.

This was Dawes’ most aggressive and efficient outing of the season — and it wasn’t accidental. This is something Coach Jensen has been working to draw out of him. If Dawes can continue to play like this, it’ll go a long ways for the Utes this season.

Ibrahima Traore’s Minutes Mattered

The box score won’t shout it, but Ibi Traore’s brief few minutes quietly did exactly what Utah needed.

In his limited minutes, he brought size, frontcourt athleticism, and a real physical presence to the frontcourt — contesting shots, finishing possessions, and playing with noticeable energy.

He ran the floor hard, held his ground defensively, and didn’t look overwhelmed by the pace or moment.

His minutes tonight are encouraging, deserved, and for him… rewarding. Traore’s had a long journey back to the court after suffering a torn ACL injury last year. To see him take the floor for the first time is a big deal.

For a team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation, those minutes mattered. Traore didn’t force offense, didn’t miss many assignments, and showed he can give Utah functional, effort-driven depth when the matchup calls for more length and athleticism inside.

Traore has a lot to learn and comfort to gain on the court, but this was an encouraging first outing for him.

Guard play raised the ceiling

Utah’s lead guards continued with what they’ve done all season long, dictate a lot of offense. They really were the difference in the second half for the Utes.

Terrence Brown

• 20 points

• 11 assists

• 4 steals

• Only 0 turnovers

• +18

Don McHenry

• 27 points

• 10-of-13 shooting

• 6-of-9 from three

• +21 (team high)

Brown dictated tempo and transition. McHenry punished every defensive mistake. Together, they drove Utah’s most decisive statistical edges:

• 22–2 fast-break points

• 12 points off turnovers (to EWU’s 6)

• Utah led for 36:59 of the 40 minutes

When Brown pushed after rebounds or steals, Utah didn’t just score — it scored before the defense was set. That’s how blowouts happen quietly and quickly.

Rebounding was the only real warning sign

Even in a 26-point win, the rebounding numbers matter.

Eastern Washington grabbed:

• 18 offensive rebounds

• 13 second-chance points

Utah allowed those extra possessions despite holding EWU to 39.1% shooting overall.

Here’s the key distinction: When Utah finished defensive possessions, the game tilted immediately. When it didn’t, Eastern Washington hung around longer than it should have.

The second half tells the story:

• EWU had 10 offensive rebounds after halftime

• Utah still outscored them 51–41

• Why? Utah turned rebounds into transition offense, not just resets

This is the tradeoff Utah is currently living with. Against better teams, those missed box-outs will matter more.

The Bottom Line

Utah beat Eastern Washington — it validated its offensive progress and an improved 40-minutes effort.

Yes, the shooting will normalize. Yes, the rebounding must improve.

Utah will need to play much better than this as they get into conference play, and Coach Jensen knows that. However, there are some encouraging signs of development.

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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