Late Scoring Surge Leads To Utah Basketball’s 72-59 Win Over Colorado
Feb 5, 2025, 9:14 PM | Updated: Feb 6, 2025, 11:46 am
SALT LAKE CITY—The Runnin’ Utes returned home for a Wednesday night matchup against the Colorado Buffs and took care of business with a 72-59 win.
The game was tight for roughly 35 minutes, and then Utah went on a 17-7 run over the final three minutes to secure a comfortable lead and win.
Utah was led by the Madsen twins tonight, as the two combined for 27 points – Gabe with 17, Mason with 10.
Ezra Ausar provided the knockout blow with a big one-handed slam late in the half.
Tonight's Final‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/t3WTzW23Cm
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
Starters for Utah basketball against Colorado
Craig Smith stuck with the same starting five, which were as follows:
Mike Sharavjamts, Gabe Madsen, Jake Wahlin, Ezra Ausar, and Lawson Lovering.
First Half, Colorado Vs. Utah
don’t forget clips!
It was a pretty rough start to this one. Utah’s Lawson Lovering missed four consecutive free throws, Ezra Ausar missed a layup, and Utah turned it over. However, the defensive intensity was quite apparent. Utah forced Colorado into a number of contested shots and they started the game 1-of-8 from the field.
15:30 – Colorado’s Javon Ruffin knocked down a 3-pointer to give Colorado a 5-4 lead. Ausar was fouled on the next possession and though he missed the first to make it five-straight misses at the line, he knocked down the second.
After Colorado’s Elijah Malone was called for a flagrant one foul, Zach Keller missed both free throws and Utah turned it over on the inbound play. Those two misses at the stripe made it a 1-of-8 start for Utah from the line.
Gabe Doing @GabeMadsen53 things, the 3 is good!🎯#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/uEWQ3cQUVU
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
Utah did score on the next two possessions, though. Gabe Madsen knocked down his first 3-point attempt, and then Keller converted a layup off of a nice dish from Miro Little to give Utah a 10-8 lead at the next media timeout.
10:22 – Colorado’s Assane Diop made 1-of-2 at the free throw line after the break. On the ensuing Utah possession, Mason Madsen back cut and Keanu Dawes made a great pass from the top for a layup.
The beautiful find by @keanu_28 to the cutting @masmadsen for the bucket down low‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/NNUHTzGHzZ
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
However, the offensive struggles continued for Utah, who just looked disjointed and out of rhythm.
7:50 – Ausar stole the inbound pass after the break, which led to another missed layup on the other end. Fortunately, M. Mason was there to collect the offensive rebound and he was fouled going back up at the rim. He actually knocked down both free throws as well. This makes seemed to serve as the breakthrough moment for Utah as they finally got into a groove offensively.
Lovering drove the lane, converted a layup through contact, and then banked in the and-one opportunity at the line. On the next possession, Wahlin scored a second-chance opportunity after his own miss. He was also fouled and made the free throw, which meant four straight makes at the charity stripe.
That's tough, @WahlinJake 😤
1 more for the sophomore‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/I6s4rjecFt
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
Ausar converted a nice little fadeaway floater type of shot in the paint. Then Lovering scored a layup that fell through contact, which drew the whistle and gave Utah a 25-14 lead at the next media timeout.
3:56 – Ausar was fouled going for a rebound and knocked down both free throws. Unfortunately, a couple of empty possessions and Colorado’s Diop scoring consecutive baskets cut into Utah’s lead, forcing Craig Smith to call a timeout. After huddling, Utah worked the offense a little to get Keller a layup and Utah a 29-20 lead.
Utah got a defensive stop on Colorado’s last possession, which left about :25 seconds left in the half, and milked the clock to get G. Madsen a shot at the buzzer, which he knocked down. That gave Utah a 32-20 lead going into the locker room.
At the halftime buzzer‼️@GabeMadsen53 on the money 💰#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/SYmx1eiozK
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
Second Half – Utah 32, Colorado 20
Utah’s offensive sluggishness showed up in the second half. The Utes went scoreless for four minutes, and then Colorado trimmed the lead to 32-27.
15:54 – Utah forced a Colorado turnover and quickly took it the other way. That led to a M. Madsen 3-pointer from the top for Utah’s first field goal at the 15:32 mark.
Defense ➡️ Offense@masmadsen causing havoc on both ends‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/d8wi6liFzb
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
It also sparked a quick 8-0 run, which was followed by a Keller layup, and a G. Madsen 3-pointer just moments later. Colorado responded with a pair of 3-pointers, though.
However, G. Madsen added a pair of free throws, and Keller got another layup, giving Utah a 44-35 lead.
11:54 – After almost two minutes of action, the Buffs were able to cut Utah’s lead to 45-42, leading to Smith calling a timeout at the 10:01 mark.
After regrouping, M. Madsen got to the rim, he missed a floater but converted the putback attempt. Utah had missed seven consecutive prior to that.
Utah forced a turnover on the ensuing Colorado possession, which led to Ausar being fouled on a layup attempt in transition. He went to the line and made 1-of-2.
7:36 – After a couple of minutes of scoreless basketball for both teams, Lovering converted a jump hook to give Utah a 51-46 lead.
Big shot to put the Utes up 5 by @GabeMadsen53‼️🎯 #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/DicbRlsoY9
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
G. Madsen knocked down a much-needed 3-pointer to give Utah a 55-50 lead. Unfortunately, they not only gave up a Trevor Baskin layup but fouled him too.
3:58 – Fortunately for Utah, Baskin missed the free throw. On the other end, G. Madsen had a layup blocked but was called for goaltending.
Bigtime offense rebound for @lawson_lovering for Mr. Big Shot, @hunterericksonn to hit from deep🎯#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/rV9sjyv9jf
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
After a defensive stop, Hunter Erickson knocked down a big 3-pointer to extend Utah’s lead to 60-52.
Lovering was fouled after another defensive stop, and confidently went to the line where he sunk both free throws.
After another defensive stop, Ausar got out in transition and threw down a huge one-handed slam.
With the HAMMER PLUS THE FOUL‼️💪@ezraausar making a statement‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/iZ2I2Sxfuu
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 6, 2025
UP NEXT – Utah Vs. West Virginia
Utah will take its first two-game road swing starting this weekend when it first heads to Morgantown for a battle with West Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 8. Eric Rothman will be on the call alongside Tim Welsh beginning at 3 p.m. (MST) on ESPN+ as the Utes check off the 39th state they’ve ever competed in on when the two square off in WVU Coliseum.
