It was an intense Saturday night showdown in Utah that left fans on the edge of their seats as the Utes and BYU squared off in a thrilling overtime battle. But now that the dust has settled, the focus shifts back to the grind of the Big 12, where tougher tests await for both teams.
The Road Ahead: Utah’s Big Challenge
Utah has a hefty challenge ahead, starting with a matchup against league-leading Houston on Tuesday. Meanwhile, BYU will be hitting the road to take on Colorado. Both teams left that rivalry game with more than just bragging rights. For Utah, a hard-fought 73-72 victory over their rivals wasn’t just about the win—it was about the answers they found, answers that BYU’s Kevin Young is still searching for.
Heading into the weekend, both Craig Smith and Kevin Young had their teams in need of some momentum and some answers. While Smith emerged with more clarity on his squad’s strengths, Young’s team continues to search for solutions.
Ezra Ausar Shines for Utah
One of the biggest revelations of the night came in the form of junior power forward Ezra Ausar. With a solid 11.2 points per game average heading into the game, Ausar had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 26 points. A key part of his effort was an explosive 8-0 run in the second half that helped push Utah to victory. His baseline moves and powerful dunks proved to be a nightmare for BYU’s defense. At several points, the Cougars simply had no answer for Ausar’s ability to dominate in the paint.
Utah’s head coach, Craig Smith, was equally impressed. “I don’t know what got into him,” Smith said with a grin, “but it needs to happen all the time. What a game.” He continued, noting how rivalry games can throw everything off, but Utah was able to make that one extra play when it mattered most.
It was clear that Ausar's performance was the spark that Utah needed to seal the victory in such a high-stakes game. As Smith pointed out, it was a win built on finding the right pieces at the right time.
BYU’s Struggles: Free Throws and Second-Half Lapses
On the flip side, BYU’s Kevin Young had a much harder time finding answers. Despite solid performances from his top players, the Cougars struggled mightily in key areas that cost them the game. One of the most glaring issues? Free-throw shooting.
BYU shot a dismal 40% from the free-throw line, hitting just 4 of 10 attempts. It wasn’t just about the missed opportunities throughout the game, either. In a crucial moment with five seconds remaining in regulation, senior Trevin Knell missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation. If Knell had made both free throws, the Cougars would have either forced overtime or possibly won the game outright. Instead, his miss kept Utah’s hopes alive.
That wasn’t the only missed opportunity. In the final minutes, Fouss Traore, BYU’s leading scorer and most accurate shooter, had two chances in the paint to help his team, but both attempts bounced off the side of the rim. It was a frustrating turn of events that left Young searching for answers.
Free Throw Disparity: A Key Factor in the Loss
To make matters worse, BYU couldn’t even get the same number of free-throw attempts as Utah. The Utes finished with an eye-popping 32 free-throw attempts, compared to just 10 for BYU. This 22-free throw difference played a huge role in the final score, giving Utah a significant edge in terms of scoring opportunities. The Cougars couldn’t overcome this disparity, and it ultimately proved to be the difference in the outcome.
In a moment of reflection, Coach Young admitted that his team had some lessons to learn. “We’ve got to learn how to win close games,” Young said after the loss. “I just told our club in there that you win and lose games on the margins. We have come up short too many times and that’s disappointing.” Unfortunately for BYU, their inability to capitalize on those margins, particularly in crunch-time free-throw shooting, left them on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
The Intensity of the Rivalry and What’s Next
Despite the loss, there’s a lot to take away from this rivalry game. Both teams played with passion and intensity, and the atmosphere in the Huntsman Center was electric. It’s clear that both programs are bringing their A-game, and the fans are feeling it. With Utah emerging victorious, they now have a major leg up in the rivalry, but they can’t afford to rest on their laurels.
As both teams move forward in their Big 12 schedules, it’s clear that the competition isn’t going to get any easier. Utah now has a huge task ahead with Houston leading the pack, and BYU will be trying to find a way to get that elusive road win, starting with their trip to Boulder. For both teams, the grind of conference play is about to get a lot tougher.
The Utes and Cougars both have their sights set on bigger goals, and while Saturday’s game may be over, the rematch in Provo come March will surely be just as intense and full of high-stakes drama. It’s going to be a fun one to watch!
A Busy Weekend for the Big 12
Meanwhile, the rest of the Big 12 had its share of exciting results. West Virginia pulled off a stunning upset, knocking off No. 2 Iowa State with a 64-57 victory. Kansas also took care of business with an 84-74 win over Kansas State. Houston, though, had to survive a nail-biting finish against UCF, narrowly winning 69-68. Cincinnati proved too much for ASU, securing a 67-60 victory. Texas Tech delivered an impressive upset against Arizona, winning 70-54, while Oklahoma State managed to get back on track, defeating Colorado 83-73.
As for BYU, it will be hoping for a turnaround when they face Colorado later this week. If they can’t figure out their issues, especially with free throws, Kevin Young will have a very grumpy team to manage in the coming days. It’s clear the Cougars need to find consistency and resolve in these key areas if they’re going to succeed in the brutal stretch of Big 12 play.
In the end, both Utah and BYU showed us the passion and determination that makes college basketball so thrilling. Though they may not have all the answers yet, the journey to finding those answers will make for some exciting basketball down the road. Fans can rest assured that the games ahead will be just as intense and packed with drama as Saturday night’s rivalry showdown.
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