Utah Struggles To Find Scoring Groove Against The Ducks, Lose First Pac-12 Game

SALT LAKE CITY- Utah basketball welcomed in the Oregon Ducks Saturday afternoon at the Huntsman Center for their annual “Dark Mode” game. After battling it out for 40-minutes in a mostly defensive chess match, the Utes succumbed to the Ducks  70-60. For most of the season, Utah has been a solid shooting team, but Oregon made a point to get after the ball often and early resulting in a poor shooting performance that ultimately cost the Utes the game.

Not a bad turnout for Saturday’s contest.#GoUtes #UteProud pic.twitter.com/NqAEnV15Zg

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

The Utes now stand at 12-5 on the season while recording their first Pac-12 loss (5-1). Utah got a win earlier in the week against Oregon State that marked a milestone for the program who had never started Pac-12 Conference play 5-0.

Utah’s First Half Against The Ducks

Utah earned possession of the first time and didn’t waste much time getting points on the board via Ben Carlson, but that would be the first and last time the Utes would lead in the first half.

Ben Carlson with the first points of the game. Ducks answer back. Game tied at 2 very early in this contest. #GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

By around the 15-minute mark, Utah was 0-7 from the field, but center Branden Carlson would sink a three to help end the dry spell. Still, Oregon was reluctant to give up that easily and the Utes trailed by two, 8-6.

Shots not falling easily for Utah, but BC sinks a three to end an 0-7 FG run for the #Utes. Oregon leads by two at the timeout, 8-6. 15:17 left to play in the first half.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

At the 11-minute mark, the Ducks had built up comfortable 10-point lead. Utah continued to battle and cut the lead to eight by the seven-minute mark with a good defensive effort and slightly better shooting.

At the media timeout Oregon has kept a solid lead, 21-13. The #Utes have played tough the past few minutes though and the Ducks have been on a 2 1/2 minute scoring drought. There is 7:30 left to play in the first half.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

Utah would end the first half on a high-note, closing the gap on the Ducks to a seven-point lead, 34-27. However, overall shooting for the half was abysmal with Utah only hitting 27% from the field and 9% from the three.

Oregon clearly went all-in on trying to eliminate BC from the first half of the game, but he still managed to lead the team at the half in points with eight, and rebounds with six.

Despite Oregon constantly swarming BC, the center leads the #Utes in both points with 8 and rebounds with 6.

Worster is your team leader at the half for assists with 4. #GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

Second Half For The Utes

The Utes came out energized to start the second half improving their field goal shooting to 31%. However, they still trailed by the first media timeout.

At the first media timeout the #Utes have improved their FG scoring to 31%, but still trail the Ducks 41-33. #GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

Utah really started to come alive when center Keba Keita was inserted into the game. Keita’s size appeared to lend itself to the “bully ball” Oregon wanted to play and the Ducks had a hard time finding and answer to Utah’s answer. Lazar Stefanovic also came through with a couple of key shots that helped inch the Utes back to within range of the Ducks.

Keita is getting comfortable out there and seems to be a real problem for Oregon. He can play their bully game.

Stefanovic comes through with a three.

Utah still trails 43-39 with just under 14 to play.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

Oregon began to pull away again from the Utes around the 10-minute mark increasing their lead back to 10. Fouls and turnovers didn’t help Utah, but certainly aided the Ducks with easy points to get extend their lead.

The Utes came back within seven with under six minutes to play and then within five with under two minutes to play in the second half, 63-58, but never had enough juice in the tank to finish the job.

The #Utes have held Oregon to a two-minute scoring drought with just under two-minutes to play in the second half. Utah has also gone 4 of 5 in their FGs closing the gap 63-58 still in favor of the Ducks.#GoUtes

— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) January 8, 2023

Utah would end the night shooting 36% from the field, 14% from the three, and 68% from the line. The Runnin’ Utes would also commit 14 turnovers which led to 20 points for Oregon.

Marco Anthony and Stefanovic took the shooting game over for the Utes and led the team with 15 and 13 points respectively, but their efforts unfortunately were not enough to overcome the poor first half start.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

Follow @bodkinkslsports