Utah Fumbles Away Quality Opportunity In 76-72 Loss To UCF
Feb 23, 2025, 4:16 PM
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) drives to the basket during the basketball game between the UCF Knights and the Utah Utes on February 23rd, 2025 at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah traveled to Orlando for an opportunity to extend their sudden winning streak. Unfortunately, Utah fumbled away their opportunity for a win and lost 76-72.
The story of the game was Utah’s turnover issues, which have been a constant on the road all season long. Today, the Utes gave it away 19 times, which led to 20 direct points, and allowed the Knights to attempt 16 more total shots in this one.
Final from Orlando
Utah – 72
UCF – 76— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 23, 2025
Starters for Utah against UCF
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, Runnin’ Utes Vs. Knights
Utah got off to a fairly strong start in this one. They scored two quick buckets at the rim, with Lawson Lovering scoring a layup and Ezra Ausar throwing down a dunk. Mike Sharavjamts knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to give Utah a 7-0 lead.
After UCF scored its first bucket, Utah quickly responded by breaking the fullcourt press, and Jake Wahlin lobbed one to Ausar for another dunk. Then Sharavjamts knocked down another 3-pointer to give Utah a 12-2 lead, which forced UCF into an early timeout.
A little Tic-Tac-Toe gives Ausar his second jam of the game!! pic.twitter.com/lIKq8nXYy3
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 23, 2025
After the timeout, Ausar continued to pressure UCF’s interior defense. He drew a couple of shooting fouls and converted 3-of-4 from the line. That extended Utah’s lead to 15-4 but the Knights would go on a 5-0 scoring spurt by the next media timeout.
11:15—Unfortunately, Utah went scoreless for over five minutes, which allowed UCF to go on a 9-0 run. Utah struggled to protect the basketball, turning it over four times during this stretch. Finally, Wahlin ended Utah’s five-and-a-half-minute drought with a layup that was goaltended.
7:22 – Unfortunately, Utah’s scoring issues continued after the timeout. The Knights continued to surge and ultimately claimed a 20-17 lead before Craig Smith called a timeout.
Following the break, Keanu Dawes rebounded his own miss from deep and got to the rim for a layup. Utah’s turnover issues continued, as they tallied turnover No. 10 with four minutes left in the half.
3:58 – Over the final few minutes, Utah turned the ball over two more times but finally regained some offensive momentum. They finished the half, scoring 10 points over the final three minutes, including Madsen and Sharavjamts knocking down 3-pointers.
After hitting a 3 on the previous play, Madsen drives and finds 🦈 for the corner 3!! pic.twitter.com/y6x05KHIK1
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 23, 2025
However, the Utes also gave up six on the other end and went into the half down 30-29. Sharavjamts led the way for Utah with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Ausar added 9 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and free throw line.
Second Half – Utah 29, UCF 30
Utah had a solid first four minutes of action. They scored 10 points, all of which came in the paint. The Utes created multiple layups through cuts to the rim and better effort pushing the ball and attacking the glass. Meanwhile, Utah did better on the defensive end of contesting and rebounding.
That gave Utah a 39-36 advantage by the first media timeout.
15:53 – The next five minutes of action were a bit all over the place. Utah was able to hold onto its lead, but it tried its best to give it away.
The Utes turned it over four more times during this stretch but still scored 10 points. However, they at least did better defending and securing the defensive glass to preserve a 49-47 edge.
10:34 – Unfortunately for Utah, the Knights went on a 7-0 run to take a 54-49 lead. The Utes created open 3-point looks for Sharavjamts, but he missed both attempts. The run forced Smith to take a timeout.
UCF extended its lead to ten before Madsen finally hit a 3-pointer to make it 59-52, which ended a three-minute scoring drought.
7:19 – The Knights continued to ride momentum after the media break. They rebuilt their double-digit advantage, 63-52, but Utah finally got on a run.
Madsen knocked down consecutive 3-pointers before Ausar scored four more points, which allowed Utah to cut UCF’s lead down to 65-62 and force a UCF timeout.
3:30 – Ausar scored a layup through contact and went to the line where he converted the free throw. Then, Sharavjamts and Madsen each added a layup on consecutive possessions to make it a 70-69 game. Unfortunately, Utah wasn’t able to get a stop on the other end, as Keyshawn Hall scored one over Lovering and gave UCF a 72-69 advantage with 32.7 seconds left.
After a frantic possession, Madsen knocked down a 3-pointer to tie it up, 72-72. The Knights called a timeout and quickly scored a layup. Then, astonishingly, Utah threw it away on the inbound with 2.5 seconds left, sealing their fate. Utah allowed UCF to end their seven-game losing streak against them.
UP NEXT – Utah vs Arizona
Utah will wrap up its final two-game road swing of the season with a familiar foe in #19/18 Arizona on Wednesday, Feb. 26, inside McKale Center. Pete Sousa will guide fans through the action while former Cardinal head coach Jerrod Haase serves as the analyst on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. (MST) as the Runnin’ Utes hope to turn things around this season and pick up its first win inside McKale Center since Dec. 6, 1986 (67-67).
