KANSAS CITY, March 12. — Utah basketball’s debut in the Big 12 Tournament ended in disappointment as the Utes fell 87-72 to UCF in the first round on Tuesday night at the T-Mobile Center. Despite a strong start, Utah couldn’t withstand a dominant second-half surge by the Knights, who shot an impressive 71.4% from the field after halftime and knocked down 10 three-pointers to secure the win.
UCF’s Jordan Ivy-Curry led the charge with 15 points, including three three-pointers, while Darius Johnson added 20 points and five assists. Keyshawn Hall also made a significant impact, scoring 23 points and hitting 9-of-10 free throws. The No. 14-seeded Knights advanced to face No. 6 Kansas in the second round.
For Utah, Keanu Dawes delivered a standout performance, recording a career-high 21 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Gabe Madsen, an All-Big 12 honorable mention, contributed 10 points and four rebounds, while Lawson Lovering added 11 points and five rebounds. The Utes dominated in the paint, outscoring UCF 42-26, and held a 40-35 rebounding edge. However, their struggles from beyond the arc—shooting just 4-of-26 on three-pointers—proved costly.
Utah started strong, using a 19-2 run to build a 12-point lead midway through the first half. Dawes, in his first start since transferring from Rice, tallied 8 points and 10 rebounds in the opening half, helping the Utes outrebound UCF 24-13. Utah also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 12 points off eight offensive rebounds. Despite an 0-for-9 start from three-point range, the Utes found success near the rim, converting six of their first seven attempts on dunks and layups.
However, UCF rallied late in the first half, hitting six of their final 10 three-point attempts, including a buzzer-beater by Hall that cut Utah’s lead to 40-39 at halftime. “It was a big shot going into the half,” Johnson said. “We got down early, but as the team got our feet wet, we started to find our groove.”
The Knights carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 22-3 run to take a 20-point lead. Ivy-Curry and Hall were instrumental in the surge, with Ivy-Curry shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Utah briefly pulled within nine points after a 7-0 run capped by Miro Little’s three-pointer, but UCF’s offensive efficiency proved too much to overcome.
Utah interim head coach Josh Eilert acknowledged his team’s struggles, particularly from three-point range. “We had a great start to the game, but the way we shot the ball tonight—4-for-26 from three—that’s a big part of our identity, and the shots didn’t fall,” he said. “On the other end, it seemed like they were throwing it in the ocean. They made a lot of plays and runs that we couldn’t counter.”
The loss marked the end of a challenging season for Utah, which finished with a 16-16 record. Eilert, whose future with the program remains uncertain following the hiring of former Utah standout Alex Jensen as head coach, said the team is considering whether to accept an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, a 16-team tournament sponsored by Fox Sports. “If we can keep playing, I would love to do that, but we’re not going to force anybody to keep playing,” Madsen said.
Madsen reflected on the season’s ups and downs, expressing gratitude for his teammates. “It’s been an interesting final few weeks. I’ve had quite an up-and-down year, but I love this group a lot. If this was the last one, it will go down as one of my favorite groups.”
For UCF, the victory was a testament to their resilience and ability to adapt after a slow start. “We just started chipping away at the lead, possession by possession,” Johnson said. “Cutting it to one at halftime gave us confidence coming out for the second half.”
As Utah looks ahead to an offseason of transition, UCF prepares for a tough matchup against Kansas, aiming to continue their surprising run in the Big 12 Tournament. Keep Reading Space Sportz for more news on sports.
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