Poor Offensive Outing Nets Utah A 71-69 Loss To West Virginia
Mar 4, 2025, 9:20 PM | Updated: Mar 6, 2025, 10:34 am
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah basketball held tough but came up short in the end, losing to West Virginia 71-69.
This was a gritty game, but West Virginia made the plays down the stretch to take the lead, and ultimately, victory from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Utah’s offensive struggles showed up in this one. The Utes made just 37% of their 45 attempts from the floor, converted just 68% from the line, and turned it over 16 times.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers finished just shy of 50% for the game, and star player Javon Small made key plays down the stretch to finish with 18 points and 7 assists.
Utah falls to 16-14 overall, and 8-11 in Big 12 play.
Starters for Utah Basketball against West Virginia
Josh Eilert switched up the starting five, which was as follows:
All seniors, Hunter Erickson, Mason Madsen, Gabe Madsen, Caleb Lohner, Lawson Lovering.
Tonight's Senior Night Starting ✋‼️ pic.twitter.com/Qp6ACs4Jli
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2025
First Half, Runnin’ Utes Vs. Mountaineers
After a couple of turnovers to start the game, Utah got into gear. Gabe Madsen knocked down a 3-pointer for Utah’s first basket of the game. Hunter Erickson followed that up on the next possession with a 3-pointer of his own. G. Madsen added another mid-range jumper before Lawson Lovering was fouled on a dunk attempt, which sent the game to the first media timeout with Utah holding an 8-6 advantage.
16:00 – G. Madsen knocked down another 3-pointer on a drive-and-kick from brother Mason, who then scored a layup off a West Virginia turnover.
Twin connection 🤝@masmadsen ➡️ @GabeMadsen53 🎯#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/tcrnUtrCIU
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2025
After a couple of empty possessions, G. Madsen knocked down another 3-pointer to start the game 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Then Ezra Ausar was fouled going up at the rim, which sent the game to the next media timeout.
11:32 – Ausar knocked down both free throws to give Utah an 18-7 lead, then on the next possession went to the line again and made 1-of-2. That would be the last Utah point for nearly four minutes, which allowed West Virginia to go on a 7-0 run to cut Utah’s lead to 19-14.
7:37 – The scoring drought continued for another two minutes, and West Virginia knocked down a 3-pointer. Finally, Lovering threw down a dunk in traffic to end the drought.
Finding the big man inside for the JAM‼️@GabeMadsen53 🤝 @lawson_lovering #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/pnpasAdsRt
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2025
Then Miro Little took a turnover the other way for a layup to rebuild Utah’s lead to 23-17.
Darian DeVries called a timeout to reset and the Mountaineers scored a basket after the break. On the other end, G. Madsen was fouled going up for a layup, and he knocked down both free throws.
3:51 – After the final media timeout, Amani Hansberry knocked down a 3-pointer to cut Utah’s lead down to 25-24. Eventually, Ausar drew another foul attacking the rim and knocked down both free throws. Utah struggled down the stretch to create good looks, or just simply missed them. They added one last bucket, a Lovering putback, and one more defensive stop to go into the locker room down 30-29.
Second Half – Utah 29, West Virginia 30
Utah started the half with possession, and after working the offense a little, eventually Mike Sharavjamts got into the lane and got a lefty layup to fall. On the next possession, Sharavjamts worked the pick-and-roll with Lovering, which led to a layup for the big man.
Too strong for @lawson_lovering ‼️💪
Utes up early in the second half #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/BXhAxzYf50
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2025
After Utah’s two baskets, West Virginia responded with a couple of scores on the other end to regain the lead. Then Sharavjamts confidently stepped into and knocked down a 3-pointer, then Jake Wahlin added one of his own. Sharavjamts then attacked the paint and was fouled going up for a jumper, which set the game to the first media timeout of the half.
14:56 – Sharavjamts knocked down the free throws to give Utah a 41-36 lead. Then, on Utah’s next possession, he confidently knocked down another 3-pointer.
Shark is FEELING it 🔥@mongolshark #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/FlJXAiSzGR
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 5, 2025
After taking an 8-point lead, West Virginia responded with consecutive baskets. Then, Wahlin was fouled on a putback attempt, which sent the game to the next media break.
11:43 – At the line, Wahlin knocked down 1-of-2, to give Utah a 45-40 lead. Keanu Dawes hit Madsen with a great bounce pass on a back cut for a layup. After a turnover, West Virginia took it the other way for a layup, which cut Utah’s lead down to one.
M. Madsen got to the rim, where he was fouled and went 2-for-2 from the line. Utah turned it over on consecutive possessions, but the defense held tough.
8:00 – Sharavjamts at the line knocked down 1-of-2 free throws to give Utah a 50-48 lead. On the next possession, Ausar drew a foul and knocked down both at the line. Unfortunately, West Virginia knocked down consecutive 3-pointers. Ausar drew a third consecutive foul, missed the first free throw attempt but Dawes hauled in the rebound, missed the putback, but Ausar tipped in that miss.
After consecutive turnovers by both teams, Ausar drew yet another foul, and made both free throws. Lovering then went to the line and knocked down not one, but both free throws, which brought the crowd to their feet.
Then West Virginia’s Javon Small knocked down a big 3-pointer, followed by an alley-oop dish to Eduardo Andre, which gave WVU a 63-58 lead at the final media timeout.
2:42 – After the timeout, Utah worked to get G. Madsen a look from the right wing and he knocked down the 3-pointer. Unfortunately, WVU’s Small answered with one on the other end.
In the final minute, WVU extended their lead to 70-64. G. Madsen knocked down a 3-pointer, and WVU turned it over
UP NEXT – Utah vs BYU
The Runnin’ Utes close out the 2024-25 regular-season on the road against their bitter in-state rivals, BYU, this Saturday, March 8, starting at 8 p.m. (MST). Mark Neely will have the call between Utah and No. 23/22 BYU alongside 3x NBA Champion Scott Williams on ESPNU as the Utes look to sweep the in-season series in the 266th edition of the heated rivalry.
