Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
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Men's Basketball
vs Nevada [Exh]
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Thursday, December 1
Salt Lake City, UT
6:30 PM
University of Utah
6-2,1-0Pac-12
81
vs
66
Arizona
6-1,0-1Pac-12
1
2
F
Arizona
25
41
66
Utah
42
39
81
Team Stats
UA
Utah
FG%
.352
.437
3FG%
.143
.360
FT%
.667
.526
RB
42
51
TO
12
14
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
Runnin' Utes Dominate #4 Arizona 81-66
12/1/2022 10:34 PM | Men's Basketball
Utah men’s basketball student-athletes Brooks King and Marc Reininger were named to the NABC Honors Court.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team had their way with fourth-ranked Arizona at home Thursday night, dominating the Wildcats 81-66 inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center for its first victory over an AP ranked opponent since 2019 and first under the direction of second-year head coach Craig Smith.
The Runnin' Utes didn't shy away against the No. 4 team in the country, jumping out to an early 12-7 lead and held on to a single-digit lead (22-16) heading into the 7:29 mark. From there, a 6-0 run pushed the Utah lead to 28-16 and forced an Arizona timeout (6:06) but it was too little too late with the Utes (6-2, 1-0 Pac-12) taking advantage of its momentum to extend its lead.
Shortly thereafter, a baseline two-handed jam from Ben Carlson got the Ute faithful on their feet before Keba Keita sent Courtney Ramey's attempt into the stands. Utah finished the final 5:13 minutes of action knocking down 6-of-9 from the field and took a 42-25 lead into the break.
Arizona (6-1, 0-1 Pac-12) did not back down whatsoever and came out of the locker room poised with an 18-7 run to cut it within 49-43 after a pair of free throws from Pelle Larson with 14:06 to go. However, the Runnin' Utes were determined and answered right back like a heavyweight bout with a 21-7 spurt of its own to go up 70-50 with just 7:34 remaining.
An Oumar Ballo dunk and eight-consecutive points from Courtney Ramey made it interesting (73-64) with 4:15 to play but Rollie Worster was there to answer the call. The Helena, Mont., product scored four of Utah's next eight points to extend the lead back to double-digits and send the Wildcats home with their first loss of the season.
Branden Carlson made it rain from three Thursday night, hitting a career-high 5-of-9 from deep for 22 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks. Worster finished with a game-high 37 minutes and was just shy of a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for hist first-career double-double. Gabe Madsen and Ben Carlson each chipped in with 11 points as well. Keita had a fantastic game in his young career, posting seven points with 11 rebounds – five offensive – off the bench for Utah. Meanwhile, Marco Anthony added six points and nine rebounds on the night.
BY THE NUMBERS
The 42-25 lead was Utah's largest against any top-5 AP ranked opponent at half on record since 1996-97 … Utes were previously 0-6 against ranked opponents under Smith … the win was also Smith's highest against an AP ranked opponent since defeating #5 San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship game in 2020 … the win was Utah's first against a top-5 opponent since defeating top-ranked Alabama at home 51-49 … Utah is now 2-4 all-time vs. #4 AP ranked opponents, the first came against Cincinnati on Jan. 1, 1964, 76-68 … it was also Utah's first win vs. an AP ranked opponent at home since defeating #25 USC 86-64 on Jan. 12, 2017.
UP NEXT
The Utes close out their two early Pac-12 Conference games on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. (MT) on the Palouse against Washington State. Eric Rothman and former Gonzaga Bulldog Dan Dickau will have the call between the Runnin' Utes and Cougars on ESPNU.
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Runnin' Utes didn't shy away against the No. 4 team in the country, jumping out to an early 12-7 lead and held on to a single-digit lead (22-16) heading into the 7:29 mark. From there, a 6-0 run pushed the Utah lead to 28-16 and forced an Arizona timeout (6:06) but it was too little too late with the Utes (6-2, 1-0 Pac-12) taking advantage of its momentum to extend its lead.
Shortly thereafter, a baseline two-handed jam from Ben Carlson got the Ute faithful on their feet before Keba Keita sent Courtney Ramey's attempt into the stands. Utah finished the final 5:13 minutes of action knocking down 6-of-9 from the field and took a 42-25 lead into the break.
Sheesh @Keba_Keita_13?? ????
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 2, 2022
?? https://t.co/bDdyzJi4Gq#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/5Q3E2Rdvai
Arizona (6-1, 0-1 Pac-12) did not back down whatsoever and came out of the locker room poised with an 18-7 run to cut it within 49-43 after a pair of free throws from Pelle Larson with 14:06 to go. However, the Runnin' Utes were determined and answered right back like a heavyweight bout with a 21-7 spurt of its own to go up 70-50 with just 7:34 remaining.
.@GabeMadsen53 for 3?? AND-1??
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 2, 2022
?? https://t.co/bDdyzJi4Gq#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/1uPOm6JPHI
An Oumar Ballo dunk and eight-consecutive points from Courtney Ramey made it interesting (73-64) with 4:15 to play but Rollie Worster was there to answer the call. The Helena, Mont., product scored four of Utah's next eight points to extend the lead back to double-digits and send the Wildcats home with their first loss of the season.
Branden Carlson made it rain from three Thursday night, hitting a career-high 5-of-9 from deep for 22 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks. Worster finished with a game-high 37 minutes and was just shy of a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for hist first-career double-double. Gabe Madsen and Ben Carlson each chipped in with 11 points as well. Keita had a fantastic game in his young career, posting seven points with 11 rebounds – five offensive – off the bench for Utah. Meanwhile, Marco Anthony added six points and nine rebounds on the night.
KEBA KEITA???? ???? pic.twitter.com/dMzKQjmA8c
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 2, 2022
BY THE NUMBERS
The 42-25 lead was Utah's largest against any top-5 AP ranked opponent at half on record since 1996-97 … Utes were previously 0-6 against ranked opponents under Smith … the win was also Smith's highest against an AP ranked opponent since defeating #5 San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship game in 2020 … the win was Utah's first against a top-5 opponent since defeating top-ranked Alabama at home 51-49 … Utah is now 2-4 all-time vs. #4 AP ranked opponents, the first came against Cincinnati on Jan. 1, 1964, 76-68 … it was also Utah's first win vs. an AP ranked opponent at home since defeating #25 USC 86-64 on Jan. 12, 2017.
UP NEXT
The Utes close out their two early Pac-12 Conference games on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. (MT) on the Palouse against Washington State. Eric Rothman and former Gonzaga Bulldog Dan Dickau will have the call between the Runnin' Utes and Cougars on ESPNU.
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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