Runnin' Utes Drop Exhibition Opener to Nevada

Friday, October 17

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

University of Utah

0-0,0-0Big 12

Nevada [Exh]

0-0,0-0Mountain West

Nevada

Utah

10/17/2025 11:20 PM | Men's Basketball

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Terrence Brown led the Utes with a game-high 27 points with six assists while Keanu Dawes added nine points and 13 boards.

By: By: Austin Eames

SALT LAKE CITY – Despite coming within inches of their opponent in the final minutes of regulation, the Utah men's basketball team fell to the Nevada Wolf Pack, 80-77, inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center, in the first exhibition game of the 2025-26 season.

Junior guard Terrance Brown led the Utes in his first ever game in red and white. Brown netted a game-high 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with six assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Junior forward Keanu Dawes led the game with 13 rebounds. The second-year Utah man finished one point shy of a double-double, ending the game with nine points on a 4-of-7 shooting split.

Utah opened the game with a starting lineup that boasted four newcomers, with the team's only returning starter being Dawes.

Brown, one of the fresh faces in Utah's lineup, opened the scoring for the Utes, netting the team's first seven points including a three-point jumper put Utah within 8-7 of Nevada with 16:15 left in the first half.

A three-pointer from Jacob Patrick, a junior transfer from MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg out of the German BBL, on the next offensive possession gave Utah its first lead of the game (10-8) with 15:46 left in the frame.

The teams traded leads throughout the following minutes of play, with Utah taking their largest lead of the half at 5:57 after another flurry of scores from Patrick and Brown. Together, the duo combined for 21 points in the first frame (8-of-13 FG), as Utah entered the break trailing the Wolf Pack 34-32.

Utah began the second frame with even more scoring from the guard duo of Patrick and Brown. Minutes later, Dawes would get himself in the scoring mix, netting four points in a row for the Utes, including a fast break dunk that gave Utah its first lead of the second stanza, 42-41, with 15:41 left in regulation.

Nevada would retake its lead on the next possession before the Utes eventually tied the game 49-49 on a three-point jumper from sophomore guard Elijah "Choppa" Moore.

The Wolf Pack would control the game throughout the ensuing minutes of play, as Utah fought hard to stay within striking distance. Free throws would define the last four minutes of regulation with Utah trailing 70-63 with 4:19 left to go.

With 29 ticks remaining and down 77-72, Brown streaked down the court for a critical basket that brought the Utes within three. The Wolf Pack responded with two free-throws to extend their lead back to five, before freshman Kendyl Sanders connected with a clutch three-point shot to get Utah back within 79-77 with seven seconds left in the game.

Despite Sanders' effort, Nevada closed out the game with a final free throw and handed the Utes the 80-77 exhibition loss.

BY THE NUMBERS

Terrance Brown led the team in points with 27
Brown went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line
Utah led Nevada 11-8 in second chance points
Utah's defense held Nevada to just 15-percent from beyond the arc (2-13)

UP NEXT
The Utes will get their first "road" test to close out the exhibition schedule next Friday, Oct. 24, against a familiar foe in Oregon beginning at 8 p.m. (MDT) on Big Ten Plus.

SEASON TICKETS & MINI PLANS
Fans still have time to purchase season tickets for the 2025-26 Utah men's basketball season under first-year head coach Alex Jensen. In addition, fans can also choose between two mini plans; the Saturday ONLY Plan starts at $125 while the Conference ONLY plan starts at $150. Single-game tickets for non-conference games are also on-sale starting at just $10 per ticket.

Fans interested in buy season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets (non-conference) can do so by going online at UtahTickets.com or by phone at 801-581-UTIX (8849).

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, X and Instagram. Fans can also stay connected on their mobile devices or tablets with the Utah 360 app.

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