The Runnin' Utes return home after 0-2 road trip to Oregon


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — After a five-game winning streak in the Pac 12 Conference, the Runnin' Utes took a hit in Oregon, going winless on the road.

The University of Utah men's basketball program is returning home from a couple of tough road losses against Oregon State and Oregon last week. Utah (17-7 overall and 6-5 in conference) is still looking for an identity midway through the conference basketball season.

Last Thursday night, Utah led Oregon State 69-68 with 2.2 seconds to go in the game, until freshman Stephen Thompson Jr. caught the ball and dribbled to halfcourt when Utah's point guard Brandon Taylor went for the hero play and drew a foul on Thompson. Time expired and Thompson headed to the line with three foul shots to seal the deal for the Beavers. He made all three foul shots and Utah was left with a heartbreaking loss.

"I think we shot ourselves in the foot," said Larry Krystkowiak in a postgame interview with ESPN700. "Obviously the last play just magnified it.

"We can't put this completely on Brandon. Brandon made the last error in the game," Krystkowiak said.

Utah had its chances down the stretch to close out the Beavers, but a conservative offense and nine second-half turnovers were the deciding factor for the Runnin' Utes. Seven of their nine turnovers came in the final seven minutes of the game when Utah had a 10-point lead against Oregon State.

"There were so many errors leading up to it, we just didn't look like a team that has their sights set on a championship," Krystkowiak said.

There was one bright side for Utah. Although the Runnin' Utes didn't come out on top against the Beavers, sophomore center Jakob Poeltl continues to shine as he finished with 20 points (8 of 11) and nine rebounds.

The road trip didn't get any easier for Utah as it traveled to No. 16 Oregon Sunday to take on the high-flying Ducks.

The No. 1 team in the Pac-12 Conference didn't disappoint against the Runnin' Utes as it recorded its sixth-straight win of the season, beating Utah 76-66.

The front-running candidate for Pac-12 player of the year, Oregon forward Dillon Brooks, put on a show against Utah and finished with a career-high 30 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Utah had no answer for Brooks, and his MVP-like performance was the difference in the game.

Utah's starting guards, Brandon Taylor and Lorenzo Bonam, combined for 0 of 9 from the field and five turnovers. The Runnin' Utes finished with 14 turnovers in the game, although shooting 50 percent from the field. The frontcourt for Utah showed up and all three big men were in double figures, led by forward,Kyle Kuzma with a team-high 18 points. Poeltl finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

The University of Utah will need help from its backcourt in order to be a contender down the stretch heading into the Pac-12 Conference tournament. Taylor and Bonam as of late have struggled playing against zone defenses and halfcourt pressures and is a reason why Utah has one of the highest turnover rates in the country. Montana Shaum

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

Sports
Montana Shaum

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast