Utah survives late rally, hands No. 14 BYU first loss of the season
AP
Dec 10, 2023
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Gabe Madsen made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points, leading Utah Utes to a 73-69 win over No. 14 BYU on Saturday night.
Utah (7-2) shot 49% from the field in its fourth consecutive win. Branden Carlson had 15 points and eight rebounds, and reserve Keba Keita added 10 points.
It was Utah’s first win over a ranked BYU team since 1993.
“It just showed what we’re capable of,” Carlson said. “We know we can compete, and we have the players and the pieces and the mindset to do that.”
Jaxson Robinson scored 17 points for BYU (8-1), and Richie Saunders had 13. Dallin Hall scored 11 points, and Spencer Johnson finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Cougars shot 36.6% from the field, including a 7-for-30 performance from 3-point range.
“Our guys have been tested now,” Utah coach Craig Smith said. “We’ve been through the ringer. We’re starting to figure out (the defensive) end of the floor.”
After trailing by 17 points early in the second half, BYU got back into the game when Utah missed eight straight shots and scored a single point over an eight-minute stretch.
Robinson converted a layup off a steal and drained a 3-pointer to cap an 11-2 run that trimmed Utah’s lead to 61-59 with 4:38 left.
Keita and Erickson stopped the run with back-to-back layups. Madsen’s fifth 3-pointer gave Utah a 71-64 lead going into the final minute.
“You don’t think about it in the moment,” Madsen said. “I just shot it. After it went in, I realized, ‘OK, that was a big shot.’ It felt really good just to be able to knock it down.”
BYU had a chance at a go-ahead basket when Saunders drained a 3-pointer following a steal and cut it to 71-69 with 39.9 seconds left. But Hall lost the ball on a pass to him along the baseline in the final seconds, ending a chance for the Cougars to complete a comeback.
“We just weren’t quite good enough at being us the whole night,” BYU coach Mark Pope said.
The Cougars were able to rally in the second half, in large part, by crashing the offensive glass. BYU finished with 20 second-chance points after collecting 17 offensive rebounds.
“There were stretches where we really felt like us as a team where the ball was popping around and we were like, ‘This feels really good,’” BYU guard Spencer Johnson said. “And then there were stretches where the ball got sticky, and we just didn’t feel like us offensively. “
Utah led virtually the entire game after jumping out to a 17-5 lead early in the first half.
BYU trimmed the deficit to 28-23 on back-to-back layups from Saunders and Trevin Knell, but could not overtake the Utes. Hunter Erickson converted a 4-point play and Carlsen added back-to-back baskets to extend Utah’s lead to 45-31 going into halftime.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: Length and height advantages served the Utes well in defending the perimeter and dictating the game’s tempo for large stretches before halftime. But Utah struggled to close out on the offensive glass to prevent BYU from getting extra possessions.
BYU: The nation’s top perimeter offense went ice cold from outside the arc. Utah successfully rushed the Cougars into ill-advised shots on numerous possessions, disrupting their normal offensive rhythm.
UP NEXT
Utah hosts Utah Valley on Saturday.
BYU hosts Denver on Wednesday.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
BYU
Cougars
31
UTAH
Utes
45
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Noah Waterman vs. Lawson Lovering (Rollie Worster gains possession)
19:41
+2
Cole Bajema makes two point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)
0-2
19:26
Dallin Hall misses two point layup
19:24
Branden Carlson defensive rebound
19:13
Dallin Hall personal foul
19:00
Cole Bajema turnover (traveling)
18:50
Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:48
Aly Khalifa offensive rebound
18:42
+3
Spencer Johnson makes three point jump shot (Aly Khalifa assists)
3-2
18:19
Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot
18:17
Noah Waterman defensive rebound
18:11
Cole Bajema personal foul
18:10
Spencer Johnson turnover (out of bounds)
17:47
+3
Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Lawson Lovering assists)
3-5
17:35
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
17:33
Gabe Madsen defensive rebound
17:21
Branden Carlson misses two point jump shot
17:19
Branden Carlson offensive rebound
17:00
+2
Branden Carlson makes two point jump shot (Lawson Lovering assists)
3-7
16:49
Spencer Johnson misses three point jump shot
16:47
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
16:45
+2
Cole Bajema makes two point jump shot
3-9
16:41
Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
16:39
Utes defensive rebound
16:22
+3
Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)
3-12
15:59
Noah Waterman misses two point layup
15:57
Gabe Madsen defensive rebound
15:47
Rollie Worster misses three point jump shot
15:45
Trevin Knell defensive rebound
15:40
Rollie Worster blocks Spencer Johnson's two point jump shot
15:38
Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
15:23
Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
15:23
Utes defensive rebound
15:23
Atiki Ally Atiki personal foul
15:22
TV timeout
15:15
Lawson Lovering turnover (Spencer Johnson steals)
15:03
Lawson Lovering personal foul
14:57
+2
Atiki Ally Atiki makes two point dunk (Trevin Knell assists)
5-12
14:48
+3
Cole Bajema makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)
5-15
14:23
Dallin Hall misses two point jump shot
14:21
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
14:09
+2
Keba Keita makes two point layup (Rollie Worster assists)
5-17
13:47
+2
Spencer Johnson makes two point jump shot
7-17
13:30
Rollie Worster turnover (Spencer Johnson steals)
13:22
+2
Spencer Johnson makes two point layup
9-17
12:42
Atiki Ally Atiki personal foul
12:40
Ben Carlson misses three point jump shot
12:38
Cougars defensive rebound
12:38
Keba Keita personal foul
12:06
Keba Keita shooting foul (Richie Saunders draws the foul)
12:06
+1
Richie Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-17
12:06
Richie Saunders misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:04
Branden Carlson defensive rebound
11:55
+3
Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot
10-20
11:52
Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
11:50
Hunter Erickson defensive rebound
11:40
Branden Carlson misses three point jump shot
11:38
Trevin Knell defensive rebound
11:22
Aly Khalifa misses three point jump shot
11:20
Richie Saunders offensive rebound
11:14
+2
Richie Saunders makes two point layup
12-20
11:03
TV timeout
10:29
Trey Stewart personal foul
10:21
+2
Gabe Madsen makes two point jump shot
12-22
10:11
+3
Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot (Trey Stewart assists)
15-22
9:57
Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot
9:55
Trey Stewart defensive rebound
9:44
Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
9:42
Utes defensive rebound
9:25
Hunter Erickson misses three point jump shot
9:23
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
9:12
Branden Carlson personal foul (Spencer Johnson draws the foul)
9:06
Trey Stewart misses three point jump shot
9:04
Branden Carlson defensive rebound
8:57
Branden Carlson misses three point jump shot
8:55
Trey Stewart defensive rebound
8:47
+2
Jaxson Robinson makes two point layup
17-22
8:32
Jaxson Robinson personal foul
8:22
Lawson Lovering turnover (out of bounds)
8:09
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
8:07
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
7:49
+2
Branden Carlson makes two point dunk (Gabe Madsen assists)
17-24
7:26
Trevin Knell turnover (Gabe Madsen steals)
7:15
+2
Branden Carlson makes two point dunk (Gabe Madsen assists)
17-26
7:04
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
7:02
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
6:49
Cole Bajema misses three point jump shot
6:47
Utes offensive rebound
6:43
TV timeout
6:24
Cole Bajema turnover (Richie Saunders steals)
6:06
+2
Richie Saunders makes two point layup (Dallin Hall assists)
19-26
5:45
Dallin Hall personal foul
5:28
Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot
5:26
Rollie Worster offensive rebound
5:19
Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot
5:17
Trevin Knell defensive rebound
5:04
Cole Bajema shooting foul (Trevin Knell draws the foul)
5:04
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 1 of 3
20-26
5:04
Trevin Knell misses regular free throw 2 of 3
5:03
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 3 of 3
21-26
4:57
+2
Hunter Erickson makes two point layup (Rollie Worster assists)
21-28
4:47
+2
Trevin Knell makes two point layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
23-28
4:36
Ben Carlson turnover (Richie Saunders steals)
4:25
Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
4:23
Rollie Worster defensive rebound
4:16
Trevin Knell shooting foul (Ben Carlson draws the foul)
4:16
+1
Ben Carlson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-29
4:16
+1
Ben Carlson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-30
3:59
Jaxson Robinson misses two point jump shot
3:57
Gabe Madsen defensive rebound
3:47
+2
Keba Keita makes two point dunk (Branden Carlson assists)
23-32
3:34
Jaxson Robinson turnover (Branden Carlson steals)
3:32
Richie Saunders shooting foul (Branden Carlson draws the foul)
3:29
TV timeout
3:32
+1
Branden Carlson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-33
3:32
+1
Branden Carlson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-34
3:17
+3
Jaxson Robinson makes three point jump shot
26-34
2:52
Branden Carlson misses two point jump shot
2:52
Utes offensive rebound
2:51
Atiki Ally Atiki personal foul
2:51
Keba Keita misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:51
Aly Khalifa defensive rebound
2:45
Jaxson Robinson misses three point jump shot
2:43
Branden Carlson defensive rebound
2:36
+2
Keba Keita makes two point dunk (Rollie Worster assists)
26-36
2:18
+3
Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Aly Khalifa assists)
29-36
2:02
+3
Hunter Erickson makes three point jump shot (Rollie Worster assists)
29-39
2:01
Jaxson Robinson shooting foul (Hunter Erickson draws the foul)
2:01
+1
Hunter Erickson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
29-40
1:46
Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
1:44
Branden Carlson defensive rebound
1:31
Gabe Madsen turnover (out of bounds)
1:21
Trevin Knell turnover (traveling)
1:11
+3
Branden Carlson makes three point jump shot (Hunter Erickson assists)
29-43
1:00
+2
Jaxson Robinson makes two point layup
31-43
0:35
+2
Branden Carlson makes two point layup (Lawson Lovering assists)
31-45
0:24
Richie Saunders misses two point layup
0:23
Townsend Tripple offensive rebound
0:23
Townsend Tripple turnover (traveling)
0:11
Utes 30 second timeout
0:03
Rollie Worster misses three point jump shot
0:01
Cougars defensive rebound
0:01
Cougars 30 second timeout
0:00
Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
0:00
Utes defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
BYU
Cougars
38
UTAH
Utes
28
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:55
Lawson Lovering blocks Dallin Hall's two point layup
19:53
Cougars offensive rebound
19:48
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
19:46
Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
19:34
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
19:32
Gabe Madsen defensive rebound
19:18
+2
Lawson Lovering makes two point layup (Branden Carlson assists)
31-47
19:02
+2
Dallin Hall makes two point layup
33-47
18:44
+2
Cole Bajema makes two point layup (Gabe Madsen assists)
33-49
18:25
Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
18:23
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
18:11
Dallin Hall personal foul (Cole Bajema draws the foul)
17:56
Gabe Madsen misses two point layup
17:54
Noah Waterman defensive rebound
17:43
+3
Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot (Noah Waterman assists)
36-49
17:30
Cole Bajema turnover (out of bounds)
17:19
Noah Waterman misses three point jump shot
17:17
Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
17:11
Cole Bajema shooting foul (Trevin Knell draws the foul)
17:11
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 1 of 3
37-49
17:11
+1
Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 2 of 3
38-49
17:11
Trevin Knell misses regular free throw 3 of 3
17:11
Cole Bajema defensive rebound
17:08
Noah Waterman personal foul (Cole Bajema draws the foul)
16:42
+2
Lawson Lovering makes two point layup
38-51
16:31
Aly Khalifa misses two point hook shot
16:29
Aly Khalifa offensive rebound
16:17
+2
Aly Khalifa makes two point hook shot
40-51
16:10
Trevin Knell personal foul
16:07
Cole Bajema misses three point jump shot
16:05
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
15:57
+2
Trevin Knell makes two point layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
42-51
15:42
+2
Branden Carlson makes two point jump shot (Lawson Lovering assists)
42-53
15:40
Lawson Lovering blocks Aly Khalifa's two point layup
15:38
Cougars offensive rebound
15:29
TV timeout
15:25
Branden Carlson personal foul (Noah Waterman draws the foul)
15:19
+2
Trevin Knell makes two point jump shot
44-53
14:58
+3
Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Hunter Erickson assists)
44-56
14:42
Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
14:40
Spencer Johnson offensive rebound
14:36
+2
Spencer Johnson makes two point layup
46-56
14:19
Branden Carlson turnover (bad pass)
14:00
Lawson Lovering blocks Dallin Hall's two point layup
13:58
Dallin Hall offensive rebound
13:45
+2
Richie Saunders makes two point layup (Atiki Ally Atiki assists)
48-56
13:33
Lawson Lovering misses three point jump shot
13:31
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
13:18
Dallin Hall misses two point layup
13:16
Lawson Lovering defensive rebound
12:53
+2
Rollie Worster makes two point layup
48-58
12:37
Dallin Hall misses two point jump shot
12:35
Utes defensive rebound
12:21
Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot
12:19
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
12:05
Spencer Johnson misses two point jump shot
12:03
Keba Keita defensive rebound
11:33
Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot
11:31
Spencer Johnson defensive rebound
11:23
Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
11:21
Keba Keita defensive rebound
11:15
Rollie Worster turnover (bad pass)
11:05
TV timeout
10:59
Cole Bajema personal foul
10:56
Trey Stewart misses two point jump shot
10:54
Aly Khalifa offensive rebound
10:40
Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
10:38
Rollie Worster defensive rebound
10:36
Aly Khalifa personal foul
10:32
Branden Carlson turnover (traveling)
10:09
Aly Khalifa misses two point jump shot
10:07
Trey Stewart offensive rebound
10:03
+2
Trey Stewart makes two point layup
50-58
9:53
Rollie Worster misses three point jump shot
9:51
Jaxson Robinson defensive rebound
9:40
Trevin Knell misses two point jump shot
9:40
Aly Khalifa offensive rebound
9:39
Gabe Madsen personal foul
9:35
Trey Stewart misses two point jump shot
9:33
Richie Saunders offensive rebound
9:29
Keba Keita personal foul
9:10
+2
Jaxson Robinson makes two point layup (Aly Khalifa assists)
52-58
8:47
Richie Saunders blocks Lawson Lovering's two point layup