‘Utah Utes’ Offense Falters Again in Costly Loss to West Virginia

The Utah Utes struggled offensively, shooting just 41% from the field, as they fell to West Virginia 72-61 on Saturday. This marks Utah’s third consecutive road loss.

Key Performers

  • Keanu Dawes led the Utes (13-10, 5-7 Big 12) with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
  • Jake Wahlin added 10 points, but no other Utah player reached double digits.
  • The Utes shot a poor 26% from three-point range, with Gabe and Mason Madsen combining for just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc.

For West Virginia, Amani Hansberry led the way with 17 points, including three three-pointers, while shooting 6-of-10 from the field. Javon Small and Joseph Yusufu each contributed 14 points.

Game Recap

The Mountaineers built a 36-27 lead at halftime, closing the first half on a 12-3 run. Toby Okani, who scored all nine of his points in the first half, helped West Virginia establish control.

West Virginia extended its lead to 53-39 with 12:38 remaining, but Utah fought back, cutting the deficit to 64-59 with three minutes left. However, a clutch three-pointer from Noah Powell sealed the game for the Mountaineers.

This was the first matchup between the two programs since Utah defeated West Virginia 65-62 in the 1998 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

Next Up

Utah will look to bounce back when they face Cincinnati on Tuesday night.

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