Runnin’ Utes Take Down TCU For First Big 12 Victory
Jan 17, 2026, 2:25 PM
Utah forward Keanu Dawes (8) dunks the ball past TCU Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
(Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Utes snapped a four-game Big 12 losing streak, leading from start to finish in an 82-79 win over TCU.
The Utes (9-9, 1-4 Big 12) hosted the TCU Horned Frogs (11-7, 1-4 Big 12) at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday, January 17.
Utah is last in the Big 12 standings after a rough start to conference play. TCU began the day in the middle of the pack at 1-3.
UTES WIN‼️ pic.twitter.com/AwkV7r9bPR
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 17, 2026
Terrance Brown led all scorers with 26 points in 33 minutes. Don McHenry (12), Seydou Traore (11), and Keanu Dawes rounded out four Utah double-digit scorers.
Dawes added 14 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, in the win.
David Punch led the Horned Frogs with 22 points.
RECAP
Keanu Dawes scored five quick points, staking Utah to a 10-0 advantage at the first media timeout
TCU began the day missing its first six shots.
Block by @joshuahayes53 leads to the @keanu_28 SLAM DUNK on the other end!!
📺 @TNTSportsUS | @truTV | @hbomax #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ba2rIXtOfD
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 17, 2026
The Utes maintained the lead for much of the first half, relying on a stiff defense and effective outside shooting.
TCU made a late run, sending Utah into the halftime break leading 38-30.
At the half from the @HuntsmanCenter pic.twitter.com/ClbTa1m03O
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 17, 2026
TCU battled back and tied the game at 39 with about 15 minutes left. Utah answered with a 7-0 run to stay in front.
A 6-0 Horned Frogs run tied matters at 53 with nine minutes left.
Utah took a 61-57 lead into the under-eight-minute timeout. The Utes had made 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) shots in the half.
Eight turnovers kept TCU within striking distance down the stretch.
.@terrencetbrown WONT BE DENIED 😤‼️
He converts the tough and-one to extend our lead to 69-64.
📺@TNTSportsUS | @truTV | @hbomax#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/MmqU05mIFF
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) January 17, 2026
The Utes hit enough free throws down the stretch to hang on for an 82-79 win.
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The Runnin’ Utes head to Manhattan, Kansas, for a date with the Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday, January 20. Tip-off is at 7 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.
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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 here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
