Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
![Nevada [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FNevadaAthletics_Navy.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Men's Basketball
vs Nevada [Exh]
![Oregon [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Foregon.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Sunday, February 15
Salt Lake City, Utah
6:30 PM
University of Utah
0
vs
0
California
No. 11 Utah Pulls Away From California 76-61
2/15/2015 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah went into its game against California 10th in scoring defense in the nation and hadn't allowed an opponent to top 72 points all season.
However, the Bears got off to a solid start, shooting 54 percent from the field over the first 15 minutes and were on pace to reach 85 points. The 11th-ranked Utes then returned to form and limited California to 29 points over the next 25 minutes in a 76-71 victory Sunday night for Utah's 17th straight home win.
''We weren't doing a very good job of guarding them,'' Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. ''This was the first time in a long time that they were scoring in the early phase of their offense and then when they did miss a shot, we got out-hustled to some 50-50 balls.
''We just didn't have much energy and they were playing a heck of a lot harder offensively than we were defensively.''
Trailing 32-26 with 5 minutes left before halftime, Utah (20-4, 10-2 Pac-12) closed the period on a 14-2 run to take the lead and didn't trail after the break thanks to an influx of energy on the defensive end.
The Golden Bears (16-10, 6-7) went 11:33 from late in the first half to early in the second with just one field goal. The Utes clamped down defensively after Tyrone Wallace's strong start to hold Cal to 41.4 percent shooting in the second half after it shot 50 percent in the first.
Delon Wright got the crowd into the game with a steal and a breakaway two-handed, double-pump dunk to take a 44-34 lead early in the second half. He then blocked a shot on the ensuing Cal possession.
''When guys are able to get steals and easy layups or block a shot and get easy fast-break points, it helps the whole team,'' Wright said. ''Our energy seems to rise.''
Jakob Poeltl had 18 points and eight rebounds while Wright added 16 points for the Utes and Brandon Taylor finished with 13.
Wallace led Cal with 26 points, including 17 in the first half, and Jabari Bird scored 21 as the Golden Bears' five-game winning streak was snapped.
''We just didn't make plays down the stretch of the first half and they did,'' Bird said. ''That gave them the boost they needed and they used that to their advantage the second half. We just couldn't bounce back from it.''
The Utes have been ranked for 13 weeks this season, including the last 11 in a row. That's the most time the team has been in the poll since the 1999-2000 season.
Utah had a moment of silence before the game to honor assistant coach Andy Hill's father, Rick, who died Saturday.
The Utes now have back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2003-05.
Wright injured an ankle late in the victory and had to be helped off the court by two teammates. He immediately went to the locker room, but returned minutes later. Moments after, Wright checked back into the game. He is scheduled to be evaluated Monday, but Krystkowiak does not expect him to miss any time.
''That was troubling for sure. The life in the building was sucked out of there for a minute,'' Krystkowiak said.
Utah visits Oregon State on Thursday.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMeet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Erick Schork
Thursday, August 28
Utah Basketball | Team Together - Episode 2
Thursday, August 21
Fan Fest 2025 Coaches and Players Interviews: Men's Basketball
Sunday, August 17
Meet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Victoria Sun
Wednesday, July 23