Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
![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)
Thursday, January 30
Los Angeles, CA
7:30 PM
University of Utah
at
USC
Men's Basketball Looks to Extend Win-Streak in Los Angeles This Week
1/27/2020 5:34 PM | Men's Basketball
The Utah men’s basketball looks to extend its win-streak this week as it heads to Los Angeles to face USC and UCLA.
OPENING TIP
The University of Utah men's basketball team hopes to continue to build upon last week's success as it heads to Los Angeles this week for a pair of games. First up for the Utes will be the USC Trojans on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. (MT) inside the Galen Center.
Joe Davis will have the call on the FS1 broadcast while Steve Lavin serves as the analyst in the 44th meeting all-time against the Trojans. Utah has had decent success inside the Galen Center doors opened in 2006, posting a 4-2 mark against USC on its home floor.
To find FS1 on your cable provider, click here.
KEEPIN' UP WITH JONES
Utah freshman Rylan Jones was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week this past Monday after coming in clutch for the Utes down the stretch against both Washington and Washington State to snap a four-game losing streak.
In the two games, the 6-1 guard averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals. In addition, Jones scored 31 of his 37 points last weekend came in the second half – including 26 combined points in the final 10 minutes of both games. In the game against UW, Jones scored all 13 of his points in the final 5:25 minutes of play – including the go-ahead free throw that secured Utah's 67-66 comeback victory. Against WSU, Jones scored 13 of the team's final 20 points down the stretch for Utah's 12th-straight win over the Cougs.
Heading into this week, Jones is fourth in the Pac-12 in average assists (4.9), second in free-throw percentage (.879), sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.417), ninth in 3-pointers made (35) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.9).
CUT ABOVE THE REST
Through games on Jan. 26, sophomore Timmy Allen and freshman Rylan Jones have put up some great numbers per Basketball-Reference and stand above the rest.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The USC Trojans enter the week 16-4 overall and 5-2 in Pac-12 play after splitting the weekend at the Oregon schools. USC nearly swept the weekend, but fell in double-overtime at Oregon 79-70. Thursday's contest will be the 13th time the Trojans and Utes have squared off in Pac-12 play with Utah leading the head-to-head series 8-4 in just regular-season conference games.
Freshman Onyeka Okongwu leads all USC players, averaging 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. The 6-9 forward has claimed a player of the week honor and a pair of freshman of the week accolades so far this season. He's also shooting a deadly .623 clip through 19 games for the Trojans and .725 from the stripe. Senior Jonah Mathews is second on the squad, averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists with a team-high 45 triples. Senior Nick Rakocevic rounds out the double-digit scoring for USC, checking in at 11.0 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.
However, in conference play, only Okongwu (16.6ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Mathews (14.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) are the only ones averaging in double-figures for USC. Like most teams, the Trojans have performed much better when playing at home and have outscored opponents by an average of 12.9 points per game. They have also outrebounded opponents on average by 7.6 boards when playing inside the Galen Center.
USC had a hot start to the season, reeling off five-straight wins before falling to Temple for its lone loss at home. The Trojans then went on another run, this time a six-game streak that included a road win at TCU and neutral victory against LSU before starting Pac-12 play.
EVERGREEN STATE BLISS
With last week's sweep of both Washington and Washington State, the Utes have now swept the Huskies and Cougars at home six times since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12. Utah has hosted the Washington Schools eight times with the exception of the 2012-13 season when they didn't host both schools.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Rylan Jones shined in the second half against Washington State and went off for 18 of his 24 points – including 13 of the team's final 20 points with 9:24 left to play. The Ute point guard finished with a game-high 24 points, three assists and four steals on 8-of-10 shooting – including 6-of-6 from the line.
Mikael Jantunen continued to blossom offensively for the Utes, scoring 16 points with five rebounds and three assists on 7-of-9 shooting – which was two points shy of his season-high. Big man Branden Carlson got out of his offensive slump and added 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night with three blocks while Timmy Allen filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
UP NEXT
The Utes remain in the City of Angels and turn their focus towards the Bruins of UCLA, who are under the direction of veteran coach Mick Cronin in his first year as the UCLA head coach. The Bruins enter this week 10-10 overall and locked up with Utah at 3-4 in Pac-12 action. The Utes and Bruins are scheduled to tip-off on Sunday, Feb. 2, on FS1 with Alex Faust on the call and former UCLA head coach Steve Lavin serving as the analyst.
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah heads home after its trip to Southern California to face a pair of Northern California teams in Stanford (Feb. 6) and California (Feb. 8) on the Pac-12 Network. The Cardinal have been a surprise this season, entering this week 15-4 overall and 4-2 in Pac-12 play while the Golden Bears are in search of moving above .500 sitting at 9-10 overall and 3-3 in conference action.
The University of Utah men's basketball team hopes to continue to build upon last week's success as it heads to Los Angeles this week for a pair of games. First up for the Utes will be the USC Trojans on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. (MT) inside the Galen Center.
Joe Davis will have the call on the FS1 broadcast while Steve Lavin serves as the analyst in the 44th meeting all-time against the Trojans. Utah has had decent success inside the Galen Center doors opened in 2006, posting a 4-2 mark against USC on its home floor.
To find FS1 on your cable provider, click here.
KEEPIN' UP WITH JONES
Utah freshman Rylan Jones was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week this past Monday after coming in clutch for the Utes down the stretch against both Washington and Washington State to snap a four-game losing streak.
In the two games, the 6-1 guard averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals. In addition, Jones scored 31 of his 37 points last weekend came in the second half – including 26 combined points in the final 10 minutes of both games. In the game against UW, Jones scored all 13 of his points in the final 5:25 minutes of play – including the go-ahead free throw that secured Utah's 67-66 comeback victory. Against WSU, Jones scored 13 of the team's final 20 points down the stretch for Utah's 12th-straight win over the Cougs.
Our @pac12 Freshman of the Week @rylanjones15?? ??#GoUtes???? #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/ECAsy3lf7Q
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) January 27, 2020
Heading into this week, Jones is fourth in the Pac-12 in average assists (4.9), second in free-throw percentage (.879), sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage (.417), ninth in 3-pointers made (35) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.9).
CUT ABOVE THE REST
Through games on Jan. 26, sophomore Timmy Allen and freshman Rylan Jones have put up some great numbers per Basketball-Reference and stand above the rest.
- Jones is just 1-of-2 freshmen to average at least 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
- Allen is just 1-of-3 players to average at least 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season and only player from a Power 5 conference. The other two are seniors.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The USC Trojans enter the week 16-4 overall and 5-2 in Pac-12 play after splitting the weekend at the Oregon schools. USC nearly swept the weekend, but fell in double-overtime at Oregon 79-70. Thursday's contest will be the 13th time the Trojans and Utes have squared off in Pac-12 play with Utah leading the head-to-head series 8-4 in just regular-season conference games.
Freshman Onyeka Okongwu leads all USC players, averaging 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. The 6-9 forward has claimed a player of the week honor and a pair of freshman of the week accolades so far this season. He's also shooting a deadly .623 clip through 19 games for the Trojans and .725 from the stripe. Senior Jonah Mathews is second on the squad, averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists with a team-high 45 triples. Senior Nick Rakocevic rounds out the double-digit scoring for USC, checking in at 11.0 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.
However, in conference play, only Okongwu (16.6ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Mathews (14.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) are the only ones averaging in double-figures for USC. Like most teams, the Trojans have performed much better when playing at home and have outscored opponents by an average of 12.9 points per game. They have also outrebounded opponents on average by 7.6 boards when playing inside the Galen Center.
USC had a hot start to the season, reeling off five-straight wins before falling to Temple for its lone loss at home. The Trojans then went on another run, this time a six-game streak that included a road win at TCU and neutral victory against LSU before starting Pac-12 play.
EVERGREEN STATE BLISS
With last week's sweep of both Washington and Washington State, the Utes have now swept the Huskies and Cougars at home six times since joining the Pac-12 in 2011-12. Utah has hosted the Washington Schools eight times with the exception of the 2012-13 season when they didn't host both schools.
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman Rylan Jones shined in the second half against Washington State and went off for 18 of his 24 points – including 13 of the team's final 20 points with 9:24 left to play. The Ute point guard finished with a game-high 24 points, three assists and four steals on 8-of-10 shooting – including 6-of-6 from the line.
Mikael Jantunen continued to blossom offensively for the Utes, scoring 16 points with five rebounds and three assists on 7-of-9 shooting – which was two points shy of his season-high. Big man Branden Carlson got out of his offensive slump and added 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night with three blocks while Timmy Allen filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
??Slomo Sunday - Freshman @MikaelJantunen with 1??6?? points on 7??-of-9?? shooting with 5?? boards and 3?? assists vs WSU. ???? #GoUtes???? #Pac12Hoops pic.twitter.com/xDXesAXcMh
— Utah Basketball?? (@UtahMBB) January 26, 2020
UP NEXT
The Utes remain in the City of Angels and turn their focus towards the Bruins of UCLA, who are under the direction of veteran coach Mick Cronin in his first year as the UCLA head coach. The Bruins enter this week 10-10 overall and locked up with Utah at 3-4 in Pac-12 action. The Utes and Bruins are scheduled to tip-off on Sunday, Feb. 2, on FS1 with Alex Faust on the call and former UCLA head coach Steve Lavin serving as the analyst.
LOOKING AHEAD
Utah heads home after its trip to Southern California to face a pair of Northern California teams in Stanford (Feb. 6) and California (Feb. 8) on the Pac-12 Network. The Cardinal have been a surprise this season, entering this week 15-4 overall and 4-2 in Pac-12 play while the Golden Bears are in search of moving above .500 sitting at 9-10 overall and 3-3 in conference action.
###
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - John White "The Wolfman"
Wednesday, October 15
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Eric Weddle
Wednesday, October 01
Meet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Martin Schiller
Monday, September 29
Meet the Runnin’ Utes Staff: Erick Schork
Thursday, August 28