No. 8 Arizona outlasts Utah 105-99 in triple overtime
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Pelle Larsson had 27 points and eight assists to lead No. 8 Arizona to a 105-99 victory over Utah in triple overtime Thursday night.
Caleb Love added 19 points and 10 rebounds to help the Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Pac-12) earn their third road win in conference play. Keshad Johnson had 17 points and Kylan Boswell scored 16. Oumar Ballo grabbed 16 rebounds to go with 10 points.
Arizona never trailed through the final two overtime periods but did not pull away for good until Ballo threw down a dunk to ignite a 9-0 run that put the Wildcats up 102-93 with 40 seconds left.
“We've got a lot of veteran guys who know how to keep a lead,” Johnson said.
Utah went 3 1/2 minutes without a basket in the third overtime, opening the door for Arizona to take control.
“We made one or two small adjustments in that third overtime,” Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd said.
Branden Carlson led the Utes with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Keba Keita had 18 points and Gabe Madsen added 17. Deivon Smith finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
After rallying from a 16-point halftime deficit, Utah (15-8, 6-6) could not overcome 10-of-21 shooting from the free-throw line and lost at home for the first time this season.
“You've got to keep fighting,” Carlson said. “Both teams were definitely fatigued and you've just got to be able to fight through it and keep making winning plays.”
Utah came back behind hot shooting from Madsen and Carlson. The duo combined for 15 baskets and 38 points after halftime.
Madsen made a 3-pointer and layup to spark an 11-0 run that helped Utah tie it at 63. The Utes missed four potential go-ahead baskets, but Arizona missed seven straight shots and went six minutes without a bucket. The prolonged drought allowed Utah to finally take a 68-67 lead on Carlson’s jumper.
The Wildcats regained the lead on a layup from Larsson on the ensuing possession and stayed in front until Madsen knocked down a transition 3 with 19.4 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.
“We’re not always going to make every shot, but I think we took our matchups personal on defense and just flipped the switch in the second half,” Smith said.
After Carlson gave Utah the lead on a layup with 1:18 left in the first overtime, Larsson tied it again on a jumper in the final minute to force another extra session.
Arizona never trailed in the second overtime, but Larsson missed a pair of potential go-ahead free throws with 52 seconds left to open the door for a third OT.
“I could have put the game away but we had to play defense right after, so there’s no time to think about it or no time to dwell,” Larsson said. “I just (focused on the) next play and we kept moving.”
Arizona built a 41-25 halftime lead when Utah made one basket over the final six minutes of the half. The Utes missed nine shots and four free throws during that stretch. The Wildcats closed the half on a 14-4 run, punctuated by Love's layup.
“That lead in the first half allowed us to absorb how well they played in the second half, and got it into overtime and we were able to find a way,” Lloyd said.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona made Utah work hard for shots in the first half but struggled to keep the Utes from getting the looks they wanted after halftime.
Utah struggled with numerous wasted possessions over the first 20 minutes, rushing shots and committing careless turnovers. Then, the offense roared to life after halftime.
UP NEXT
Arizona visits Colorado on Saturday.
Utah hosts Arizona State on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Oumar Ballo vs. Branden Carlson (Deivon Smith gains possession) | ||
| 19:36 | | Gabe Madsen misses two point jump shot | ||
| 19:34 |  | Caleb Love defensive rebound | ||
| 19:19 | | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 2-0 |
| 18:59 | | Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot | ||
| 18:57 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 18:45 | | +3 | Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot | 5-0 |
| 18:22 | | +2 | Deivon Smith makes two point layup | 5-2 |
| 18:13 | | Kylan Boswell turnover (bad pass) (Keba Keita steals) | ||
| 18:03 | | Branden Carlson misses two point layup | ||
| 18:01 | | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | ||
| 17:48 | | Keshad Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 17:46 | | Gabe Madsen defensive rebound | ||
| 17:26 | | Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot | ||
| 17:24 | | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 17:16 | | Gabe Madsen personal foul | ||
| 17:11 | | +3 | Pelle Larsson makes three point jump shot (Caleb Love assists) | 8-2 |
| 16:50 | | +3 | Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists) | 8-5 |
| 16:31 | | Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 16:29 | | Keba Keita defensive rebound | ||
| 16:17 | | +2 | Cole Bajema makes two point jump shot | 8-7 |
| 16:04 | | KJ Lewis misses two point layup | ||
| 16:02 | | Deivon Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 15:56 | | +2 | Keba Keita makes two point layup (Gabe Madsen assists) | 8-9 |
| 15:34 | | KJ Lewis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 15:32 | | Branden Carlson defensive rebound | ||
| 15:03 | | +2 | Branden Carlson makes two point layup (Cole Bajema assists) | 8-11 |
| 14:43 | | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point jump shot | 10-11 |
| 14:13 | | Jump ball. Deivon Smith vs. Caleb Love (Caleb Love gains possession) | ||
| 14:13 | | Deivon Smith turnover (lost ball) (KJ Lewis steals) | ||
| 14:13 | | TV timeout | ||
| 13:54 | | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | ||
| 13:52 | | Ben Carlson defensive rebound | ||
| 13:24 | | Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 13:24 | | Deivon Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 13:23 | | Utes turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 13:14 | | Caleb Love misses two point jump shot | ||
| 13:12 | | Deivon Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 13:07 | | Caleb Love personal foul | ||
| 13:02 | | Gabe Madsen turnover (bad pass) (Pelle Larsson steals) | ||
| 12:55 | | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point layup (Pelle Larsson assists) | 12-11 |
| 12:41 | | +2 | Lawson Lovering makes two point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists) | 12-13 |
| 12:21 | | +3 | KJ Lewis makes three point jump shot (Oumar Ballo assists) | 15-13 |
| 12:01 | | Lawson Lovering misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:59 | | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | ||
| 11:42 | | KJ Lewis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:40 | | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 11:36 | | Deivon Smith blocks Keshad Johnson's two point layup | ||
| 11:34 | | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 11:32 | | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point layup | 17-13 |
| 11:13 | | +2 | Hunter Erickson makes two point jump shot | 17-15 |
| 11:03 | | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point layup | 19-15 |
| 10:43 | | Oumar Ballo blocks Lawson Lovering's two point jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Utes offensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | TV timeout | ||
| 10:33 | | Branden Carlson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:31 | | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:26 | | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:24 | | Jake Wahlin defensive rebound | ||
| 10:13 | | Keba Keita turnover (bad pass) (Kylan Boswell steals) | ||
| 10:06 | | +3 | Caleb Love makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 22-15 |
| 9:44 | | Hunter Erickson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:42 | | Jake Wahlin offensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | Keba Keita misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Branden Carlson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:29 | | Keshad Johnson personal foul | ||
| 9:25 | | Oumar Ballo blocks Branden Carlson's two point layup | ||
| 9:25 | | Utes offensive rebound | ||
| 9:08 | | Utes turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 8:55 | | Keshad Johnson misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Branden Carlson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:46 | | Deivon Smith misses two point layup | ||
| 8:44 | | Keba Keita offensive rebound | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Keba Keita makes two point layup | 22-17 |
| 8:32 | | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 24-17 |
| 8:14 | | Branden Carlson turnover (bad pass) (Keshad Johnson steals) | ||
| 8:10 | | Cole Bajema shooting foul (Keshad Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:10 | | +1 | Keshad Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-17 |
| 8:10 | | Keshad Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:10 | | Gabe Madsen defensive rebound | ||
| 7:47 | | Caleb Love blocks Cole Bajema's two point layup | ||
| 7:45 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 7:40 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:38 | | Keshad Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | Deivon Smith shooting foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | ||
| 7:36 | | TV timeout | ||
| 7:36 | | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-17 |
| 7:36 | | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-17 |
| 7:13 | | Ben Carlson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:12 | | Utes offensive rebound | ||
| 7:02 | | +2 | Deivon Smith makes two point layup | 27-19 |
| 7:02 | | Motiejus Krivas shooting foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 7:02 | | Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 7:02 | | Motiejus Krivas defensive rebound | ||
| 6:49 | | Pelle Larsson turnover (lost ball) (Deivon Smith steals) | ||
| 6:42 | | Deivon Smith turnover (lost ball) (KJ Lewis steals) | ||
| 6:27 | | Caleb Love misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:25 | | Motiejus Krivas offensive rebound | ||
| 6:23 | | Motiejus Krivas turnover (lost ball) (Ben Carlson steals) | ||
| 6:23 | | Motiejus Krivas personal foul | ||
| 5:58 | | +2 | Deivon Smith makes two point jump shot | 27-21 |
| 5:37 | | KJ Lewis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:35 | | Ben Carlson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | Ben Carlson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:16 | | Deivon Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 5:10 | | Deivon Smith misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:08 | | KJ Lewis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:05 | | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point dunk (Jaden Bradley assists) | 29-21 |
| 4:35 | | Oumar Ballo blocks Ben Carlson's two point jump shot | ||
| 4:33 | | Lawson Lovering offensive rebound | ||
| 4:25 | | Lawson Lovering misses two point layup | ||
| 4:23 | | Caleb Love defensive rebound | ||
| 4:18 | | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | ||
| 4:16 | | Lawson Lovering defensive rebound | ||
| 4:08 | | Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:06 | | Jake Wahlin offensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | Utes 30 second timeout | ||
| 3:59 | | TV timeout | ||
| 3:48 | | Keba Keita misses two point layup | ||
| 3:46 | | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | ||
| 3:39 | | Jake Wahlin blocks Caleb Love's two point layup | ||
| 3:37 | | Branden Carlson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:25 | | Keba Keita misses two point layup | ||
| 3:23 | | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | ||
| 3:18 | | +2 | Jaden Bradley makes two point jump shot | 31-21 |
| 3:03 | | Keshad Johnson shooting foul (Branden Carlson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:03 | | Branden Carlson misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | ||
| 3:03 | | Branden Carlson misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | ||
| 3:03 | | +1 | Branden Carlson makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 31-22 |
| 2:41 | | +2 | KJ Lewis makes two point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 33-22 |
| 2:20 | | Keba Keita offensive foul | ||
| 2:20 | | Keba Keita turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 2:10 | | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot | 35-22 |
| 1:52 | | Jaden Bradley personal foul | ||
| 1:40 | | Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:38 | | Wildcats defensive rebound | ||
| 1:26 | | Keshad Johnson misses two point layup | ||
| 1:25 | | Jaden Bradley offensive rebound | ||
| 1:25 | | Ben Carlson shooting foul (Jaden Bradley draws the foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-22 |
| 1:25 | | +1 | Jaden Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-22 |
| 1:09 | | +3 | Ben Carlson makes three point jump shot (Deivon Smith assists) | 37-25 |
| 0:56 | | +2 | KJ Lewis makes two point layup | 39-25 |
| 0:36 | | Deivon Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:34 | | Wildcats defensive rebound | ||
| 0:23 | | Wildcats 30 second timeout | ||
| 0:08 | | +2 | Caleb Love makes two point layup | 41-25 |
| 0:02 | | KJ Lewis shooting foul (Deivon Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 0:02 | | Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 0:02 | | Deivon Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:02 | | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |