Scoreless Final Minutes Doom Utah Basketball In 72-61 Loss To West Virginia
Feb 8, 2025, 5:21 PM | Updated: Feb 10, 2025, 5:28 pm
SALT LAKE CITY—The Runnin’ Utes fall in their first trip to Morgantown as a Big 12 member, losing to West Virginia 72-61.
Craig Smith and his Utah program fall to 13-10 overall, 5-7 in Big 12 play. They’ll turn their attention to the Cincinnati Bearcats on Tuesday.
Utah did cut the Mountaineers’ lead to 64-59 with three minutes left to go. Unfortunately, that would be the closest they got it, as West Virginia rebuilt a double-digit lead in the final minutes.
Keanu Dawes led the way for Utah, finishing with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He was largely the reason Utah kept it close throughout the game. Jake Wahlin was the only other Ute in double-figures with 10 points.
Starters for Utah basketball against West Virginia
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 – Utah Vs. West Virginia
Utah got out to a good start in this one. They opened up a 6-0 lead after Mike Sharajamts knocked down a jumper and two consecutive free throws and Lawson Lovering threw down a dunk. However, West Virginia responded promptly with two 3-pointers and a layup to take an 8-6 lead at the first media timeout.
15:46 – After a West Virginia miss, Ezra Ausar got out into transition and scored a reverse layup to tie it up. Then Gabe Madsen knocked down a jumper curling off a pindown screen to give Utah a 10-8 lead.
Unfortunately, Ausar picked up his second foul at the 12:11 mark and had to head to the bench. West Virginia also went on a quick 7-0 scoring spurt to take a 15-10 lead at the next media break.
KD knocks down the open 👌!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/NkrgXMo5Of
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 8, 2025
11:28 – Utah got a defensive stop, then created an open look for Keanu Dawes, who knocked down the 3-pointer from the left wing.
Then, Miro Little scored five straight points over two possessions, as he knocked down three throws and a layup.
After a Sharavjamts turnover against West Virginia’s full-court press, the Mountaineers took a 21-18 lead. On the ensuing inbound, Ausar was left unguarded and took it all the way to the rim for an easy dunk.
Ausar catches the defense asleep and takes it all the way for the 🔨🔨#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/inKruZw4qG
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 8, 2025
On the next possession, Lovering got an easy basket at the rim. The Mountaineers responded on the other end and held a 23-22 lead by the next timeout.
5:44 – The Ausar dunk was the last point for Utah for nearly three minutes. The Utes had a couple of decent scoring looks but failed to convert.
Dawes eventually drew a foul and went to the line, knocking down both free throws and giving Utah a 7/7 start from the line.
3:35 – West Virginia was able to extend their lead to 29-24, but Mason Madsen knocked down a 3-pointer to help Utah keep pace.
Unfortunately for Utah, the Madsen 3-pointer were the final points scored in the remaining 2:59 of the half.
Meanwhile, West Virginia closed with a 7-0 run to take a 36-27 lead into the locker room.
Second Half – Utah 27, West Virginia 36
Jake Wahlin opened Utah’s scoring as he connected on a deep 3-pointer from the top. Lovering was fouled on Utah’s next possession but missed both free throws.
Ausar got an easy one to go at the rim but had to battle through contact and was called for a technical after complaining about it. G. Madsen knocked down a 3-pointer on a baseline inbound play.
Gabe Madsen with his first 👌 of the evening for Utah! pic.twitter.com/aUT8sbGaZM
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 8, 2025
West Virginia continued to make shots as Utah’s defense failed to consistently contest them. So, despite scoring 8 points in the first four minutes, Utah gave up 11, and West Virginia extended its lead to 47-35 at the first media timeout.
15:26 – Sharavjamts knocked down a pull-up jumper from about 10 feet after working the offense a little. Utah then got a defensive stop and out in transition, which led to a pull-up jumper from G. Madsen to make it 47-39.
Unfortunately, West Virginia responded with a 6-0 spurt to rebuild a 14-point lead. Wahlin got a layup to go.
11:07 – Dawes got it going for Utah after a couple of empty possessions. He scored five straight points by knocking down a corner 3-pointer off a Little dish. He then created his own scoring opportunity by getting a steal and taking it the other way for the dunk.
Dawes with a nice 5-0 run of his own after this steal and breakaway jam!!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/sMS8XXZr9l
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) February 8, 2025
After a Hunter Erickson jumper, Dawes got another one to go at the rim, plus the harm. He went to the line but missed the free throw. Still, he cut the lead to 56-50.
7:54 – M. Madsen scored a layup on Utah’s first possession after the break. After a couple of empty possessions, Dawes secured an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback attempt. He converted both attempts at the line to make it 60-54.
Unfortunately, West Virginia would rebuild their lead back to 10 after a pair of free throws and an Erickson turnover led to a layup.
After the timeout, Ausar hit Wahlin back-cutting to the rim for a layup. Then, after a defensive stop and securing an offensive rebound, Wahlin knocked down a 3-pointer from the top to cut West Virginia’s lead in half, 64-59.
2:59 – Utah was unable to create scoring opportunities and West Virginia responded. They scored seven unanswered to rebuild their lead back to 12 over the final few minutes. Utah would add a late layup for a final of 72-61.
UP NEXT – Utah Vs. Cincinnati
Utah closes out its two-game road swing on Tuesday, Feb. 11, when it heads to Cincinnati for a 5 p.m. (MST) match-up inside Fifth Third Arena. Eric Rothman and Tim Welsh will once again have the action on ESPN+ as the Runnin’ Utes look for their first win ever against the Bearcats on the road (0-3).
