Utah Survives Overtime, Topping BYU In Rivalries First Big 12 Tilt
Jan 18, 2025, 9:48 PM | Updated: Jan 20, 2025, 2:50 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – A parade of missed free throws in overtime dampened what was otherwise a classic installment in a classic rivalry, with Utah prevailing 73-72. It is the third straight win for the Utes.
The Utes (13-6, 3-3) host BYU (11-6, 2-4) for the first time as members of the Big 12 in the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, January 18.
RELATED: How To Watch BYU Vs. Utah Basketball On ESPN+
RED. DUBS. RED. DUBS‼️‼️
THAT'S A WRAP, UTAH FANS‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/iflDfkZEWl
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
“It’s obviously always an exciting game. I think when you play those types of rivalry games, everything just goes out the window. So it’s like, who wants it the most? And who’s gonna come ready to compete,” said Utah guard Gabe Madsen, who scored 17 points in last year’s BYU/Utah game. “It’s pretty hard not to come ready to compete in those games, a lot of energy, it’s really fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
BYU leads the all-time series 134-130, with Utah winning the last matchup at the Huntsman Center a season ago.
BYU and Utah have been playing since 1908. They were conference rivals from 1923 to 2011, most notably in the WAC and Mountain West, before they split for the PAC-12 and WCC, respectively. Now, they are back in the same league, and the platform is one of the best hoop leagues in the land.
Both teams are 2-3 in Big 12 play this season and looking to climb up the standings.
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Pregame
BYU center Keba Keita makes his return to the Huntsman Center. pic.twitter.com/oAk7ccNZy3
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
In true 🔴vs🔵 fashion‼️
READY FOR SOME RIVALRY ACTION#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/EH4iaWxMCM
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Starting lineups for BYU vs. Utah
BYU
– Egor Demin
– Trevin Knell
– Richie Saunders
– Mawot Mag
– Keba KeitaUtah
– Mike Sharavjamts
– Gabe Madsen
– Ezra Ausar
– Jake Wahlin
– Lawson Lovering— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 19, 2025
First Half
Here. We. Go. pic.twitter.com/Vtl1ofxttA
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 19, 2025
BYU opens the game, shooting 2 of 8 from the field.
Like the last road game at TCU, Kevin Young quickly adjusted his lineup due to one player picking up two quick fouls. Tonight it was Mawot Mag who picked up a personal and a technical after hitting a three-pointer.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Gabe doing @GabeMadsen53 things on rivalry night!!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Y2vUBQX4Jl
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
MTO 15:53 – Utah 7, BYU 5
Utah off to a good start, Gabe specifically too. He's got the 6 already and knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night. Utah's defense has been solid to start this one.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
With the HAMMER, @keanu_28 ‼️🔨#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/aEUrwRTVxn
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Richie Saunders is playing like the No. 1 guy on the scouting report.
Strong start for the junior wing who grew up watching this rivalry as a kid, cheering for BYU growing up in Riverton.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Keba Keita with authority on the alley-oop slam dunk.
He's been on the receiving end of boos every time he touches the ball tonight in his return to the Huntsman Center.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
We look forward to seeing this on #SCTop10 😎
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/4QpPfijRp8
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
That's TOUGH @lawson_lovering 💪#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/JKxSimEqTC
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
MTO 7:50 – Utah 15, BYU 18
Again, Utah continues to generate some good scoring looks, Gabe had a couple and just missed. It's simple but Utah has to start connecting on these opportunities.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
BYU leads Utah 24-18 after a pair of threes from Egor Demin and Richie Saunders.
Big three for Demin. It was a long-distance attempt, and he shot that thing with confidence.
Keba Keita made an outstanding catch in traffic to then find Saunders for the three in the corner.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Egor drains one from Jimmer range
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/mnYs4dkTsq
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
What a luxury for BYU to have the ability to line up a guard (Egor Demin) defensively on a Utah center (Lovering). BYU got the stop.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Utah with a 6-0 run of their own and BYU has been scoreless for about three minutes now.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
BYU leads Utah 30-27 at the half.
BYU closed out the first half, hitting only one of their final eight field goal attempts.
BYU is (+3) in rebound margin, 23-20.
Both teams did a solid job of taking care of possessions. Each team had four turnovers in the first half.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Halftime on Rivalry Night pic.twitter.com/qbjK1dSnem
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Second Half
it's important that you watch this😌
📺ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/UAaUy77KaY
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
Utah with a sloppy start to the second half and allowed BYU to begin with a 5-0 run.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
In transition, @ezraausar throws it DOWN‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/lZW4vklJWE
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Utah with an 10-2 response to make it 37-37… It's been all Ausar and Lovering.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
BIG. MAN. @lawson_lovering ‼️🔨#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/d7csPuZgul
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Utah is dominating on the glass to open the second half.
BYU is (-7), 9-2 on the glass.
Utes are on a 12-2 run, eight straight from Ezra Ausar. He has 12 points already in the second half.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Lawson Lovering and Ezra Ausar have been dominant the last four minutes. They're responsible for all 14 points… Ausar with 10, Lovering 4…. BYU takes a timeout. Utah 43, BYU 39
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Going to work‼️@ezraausar with 16, 14 in the second half‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/X74oUu0TAL
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Mihailo Boskovic is making the most of his opportunity in the second half.
Boskovic got a tip-in bucket off a missed three.
First game action for Boskovic since the loss at Houston earlier this month. His second appearance in Big 12 play.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Bingo! Keita to Catchings for three.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
You'll take em where you can get em sometimes, and Utah will happily take 3-pointers from Dawes and Erickson, 53-48, Utah
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Moment of Loudness for Utah Man, Cleadus Woodbury 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fkTqeajJTX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 19, 2025
Utah 53, BYU 50 – 7:34 remaining
BYU is shooting 36% (FG), 26% (3PT), 50% (FT).
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
BIG BUCKET TREVIN KNELL
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/nAxWdozhgv
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
Still imposing his will, @ezraausar with 20‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/2hJLQ16BHP
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
An empty possession for BYU that was close to a shot clock violation led to Utah's Ezra Ausar getting another bucket inside. Utes up 4 with 2:17 to go.
Ausar is up to 18 points in the second half to lead Utah.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
BYU bucket to make it 60-59 and Utah takes a timeout with 1:10 left in the game. https://t.co/MmGiM9nL9E
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
COUGS TAKE THE LEAD!!
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/OzBgs3z3E9
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
EMPHATIC SEASON HIGH FOR @ezraausar ‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/O9UvwySNQY
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
FOUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSS
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/NhDQR4TVZL
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) January 19, 2025
Aaaaaand we’re going to overtime!
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Overtime
HUNTER. ERICKSON🎯
1OT all tied up at 70!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/zIK3OBtnsO
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 19, 2025
Erickson drives and is fouled going up for a layup. He knocks down the first to tie it up, and the second to give Utah the 73-72 lead.
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) January 19, 2025
Former BYU player Hunter Erickson is leading Utah down the stretch. He's scored the last six points for the Utes.
BYU needs some last-second heroics. Down 73-72 with 11.0 seconds to go in overtime.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Knell misses the front end from the free throw line. 4.6 seconds to go in overtime.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
BYU is 4 of 10 from the free throw line tonight.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 19, 2025
Final: Utah 73, BYU 72 (Overtime)
Utah improves to 3-3 in Big 12 play, BYU falls to 2-4. pic.twitter.com/cON9TXR5rm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 19, 2025
Follow the BYU-Utah Rivalry with KSL Sports
The Utes head to Houston on Tuesday, January 21, to face the No. 10 Houston Cougars. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. MT.
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.
Follow KSL Sports coverage of Utah athletics here.
BYU will be in Boulder, Colorado on Tuesday, January 21, to take on the Colorado Buffaloes. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. MT.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
Follow KSL Sports coverage of BYU athletics here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
