Runnin’ Utes Let Second Half Lead Collapse, Suffer Home Loss To UW
Jan 6, 2022, 9:32 PM
Gabe Madsen #55 and Branden Carlson #35 of the Utah Utes battle for a rebound with Jackson Grant #12 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of their game January 6, 2022 at the Jon M Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men’s basketball team let a double-digit lead slip away in the second half of a loss to the Washington Huskies.
The Runnin’ Utes hosted the Huskies at the Huntsman Center on Thursday, January 6.
Utah lost to UW, 74-68.
Played tough tonight 💪 #GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/8nKFYF3wQv
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) January 7, 2022
Both teams struggled to score at the start of the contest. The Utes owned an early 5-4 lead after the first television timeout with 15:25 remaining in the opening half.
Washington’s Cole Bajema hit a three-pointer to give the Huskies a four-point advantage midway through the first half.
Following Bajema’s triple, Utah went on a 10-4 run over the following two minutes of game time.
Utes working to extend their lead. 😤
📺 Pac-12 Network
📱 https://t.co/fgEzjEk9bn@UtahMBB | #GoUtes | #Pac12MBB pic.twitter.com/n8fYjDuI2m— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 7, 2022
Gabe Madsen sparked Utah’s offense with nine points off the pine during the first 20 minutes.
.@GabeMadsen53 is 🔥🔥🔥 from behind the arc!
Going 3/4 for 9 points!📺https://t.co/DZieJegsqz pic.twitter.com/UsfsPZJhst
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 7, 2022
UW and Utah went back-and-forth throughout the closing minutes of the first half and the Utes went into the locker room with a four-point lead, 37-33.
After the slow start, Utah ended the first half shooting 45.5 percent overall and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Following the break, Braden Carlson and Rollie Worster propelled the Utes to a 10-2 run. The burst put Utah up double-digits, 47-35 with 15 minutes to go.
Utes extend their lead with 8-0 run. @ballerbranden35 leads all scorers with 10 points@UtahMBB 47@UW_MBB 35
15:03 remaining. Huskies ball out of the timeout#GoUtes #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/fRPhlPUc4D
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2022
The Utes were unable to seal the deal and put the game away over the subsequent possessions.
UW battled back and outscored Utah 22-10 over the next eight minutes to tie the game at 57 with 7:26 remaining.
Huskies making a run in the Huntsman Center as they trail by 1 with 7:57 remaining.
Utah's 17 turnovers becoming the story of the game@UtahMBB 55@UW_MBB 54#GoUtes #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/egd7nGtVER
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2022
After Lazar Stefanovic hit a jump shot, the Utes were held without a made field goal from the 6:39 mark until Stefanovic connected on a layup with 1:53 to go.
During the dry spell, Utah only managed to score two points on a pair of foul shots by Carlson.
Marco Anthony made a couple of layups to make it a one-score lead for the Huskies with under 90 seconds left.
HUGE putback by @MarcoJAnthony brings the Utes within 3.
57.9 seconds remaining@UtahMBB 65@UW_MBB 68#GoUtes #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/70MOkiVZDm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2022
However, Washington was able to hang on during a mini free throw contest.
Utah finished the contest shooting 48.2 percent from the field, including 38.9 percent from downtown.
Carlson, Stefanovic, and Madsen led the Utes with 12 points each.
With the loss, the Utes fell to a record of 8-7 this season, including 1-4 in Pac-12 action.
Utah’s next game is at home against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, January 8 at 4 p.m. (MDT) on the Pac-12 Network.
