The Utah men’s basketball team lost a close game to the UCF Knights, 73-71, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday night. The match saw frequent lead changes and strong performances from both teams.
In the first half, Utah and UCF exchanged baskets early before junior guard Terrence Brown helped Utah take an 11-8 lead. A tip-in layup by Kendyl Sanders later pushed Utah ahead 24-21, prompting a timeout from UCF. After that break, the Knights responded with a 12-2 run to claim a 33-26 advantage. Despite falling behind by as many as nine points, Utah narrowed the gap with a late run and trailed only 41-36 at halftime.
During the second half, Don McHenry led Utah’s scoring effort with 17 points on efficient shooting. Down by seven midway through the period, Utah mounted a comeback with a 10-0 run capped by Keanu Dawes’ jump shot for a 62-59 lead. McHenry hit key shots in the final minutes, including free throws that tied the game at 71 with just seconds remaining.
However, UCF secured victory at the foul line after drawing a late foul from Utah.
Brown finished as Utah’s top scorer with 21 points and four assists. McHenry added 19 points and three assists while Dawes recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and twelve rebounds.
“With 15 points and 12 rebounds Keanu Dawes recorded his ninth double-double of the season. 15th of his career,” according to team statistics.
“With 21 points Terrence Brown recorded his 16th game this season with 20-plus points,” team officials stated.
Utah was perfect from the free throw line (7-for-7) and matched its second-highest assist total of the season with eighteen assists against UCF—equaling their output in previous games against San Jose State and Cal Poly. The team’s shooting percentage of .491 was its third-highest this year, while they also outscored UCF in second-chance opportunities thanks to converting seven of nine offensive rebounds into sixteen points.
Utah now prepares to host #6 Iowa State on Tuesday, February 24 at home. Fans can purchase tickets for upcoming games online or by phone through official channels listed on UtahTickets.com. Additional updates are available via www.UtahUtes.com and social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or through the Utah360 app.
