In a clash that underscored the challenges of a short-handed roster, the Utah Utes secured a 73-68 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The encounter marked the first meeting between the two teams this year and highlighted the Utes’ formidable home dominance. Senior guard Deivon Smith led the Utes to victory with an impressive performance, narrowly missing a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. On the opposing side, CU’s junior point guard KJ Simpson showcased his skills with 25 points on 10-22 shooting, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Photo Cred: Buff Zone
Colorado concludes a challenging 1-2 road trip, securing a win against Washington but suffering losses to Washington State and Utah. The Buffaloes faced adversity with only a seven-man rotation due to late scratches from star players Cody Williams, Luke O’Brien, and Bangot Dak, all sidelined with injuries. Senior forward Tristan Da Silva, averaging 15.6 points per game on the season, struggled with a cold shooting day, scoring only 10 points on 3-15 shooting.
With little margin for error given their short-handed lineup, Colorado struggled to overcome Da Silva’s off day and committed 14 turnovers, resulting in 19 points for Utah. The Buffaloes now hold a 1-6 record in true road games this season. The Utes, snapping a two-game skid from previous road losses against Washington and Washington State, improved their home record to an impressive 12-0 this season. Smith and senior guard Gabe Madsen stepped up with crucial performances, contributing 17 and 21 points, respectively, to secure the win.
Photo Cred: Desert News
Despite leading scorer Branden Carlson having a relatively quiet game with 5 points on 2-10 shooting, the Utes showcased their depth and resilience. The first half of the game concluded in a 31-31 tie, characterized by a defensive battle with both teams hovering around 40 percent shooting from the field. Colorado struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 1-8 in three-point attempts, while Utah managed a slightly better 4-14 from long range. Both teams faced turnovers, with Colorado committing seven and Utah six.
With 17:33 remaining in the game, a three-pointer from Da Silva brought the score to 38-37 in favor of Utah. However, the Utes then embarked on a 10-1 run, extending their lead to 10 points with 12:32 on the clock. Although the Buffaloes made a late push with a 10-4 run led entirely by Simpson, cutting the Utah lead to 68-65 with 0:45 remaining, the Utes held their ground and secured the win with successful free throws down the stretch.
As Colorado returns home after two weeks on the road, they face a significant opportunity against the eleventh-ranked Arizona next Saturday. However, they must first contend with struggling Arizona State on Thursday. Utah, riding high on their home success, will host both Arizona and Arizona State, aiming to strengthen their case for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
