Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Ezra Ausar led the Runnin' Utes with 21 points in their first Big 12 win.
- Utah's strong defense and effective ball movement secured an 83-62 victory over Oklahoma State.
- Coach Craig Smith praised the team's effort, while Oklahoma State's coach cited a lack of execution.
SALT LAKE CITY — Something changed for the Runnin' Utes.
Utah hit its free throws at a higher rate early, played as the aggressors with good ball movement and fluidity, and locked down a visiting Oklahoma State team on defense. Oh, and the team found a consistent offense.
It also helped that Oklahoma State struggled to get anything to fall around the rim, including blocking themselves multiple times at the rim. Utah added seven blocks of their own to that total.
After starting the season 0-3 in Big 12 play — largely because of inconsistencies in all the previous areas mentioned — the Runnin' Utes got their first win of conference play, defeating the Cowboys 83-62 Saturday night at the Huntsman Center.
"It's a great win. I'm so happy for our guys," Utah head coach Craig Smith said. "Obviously, it's been a minute since we've been in the victory side of things. ... It's been a long three weeks, in some respects, but I'm really proud of them, because we stayed with it."
Ezra Ausar took control early, while sophomore Keanu Dawes came alive in the second half as the two post players had a standout night to lead the Utes (9-6, 1-3 Big 12). The duo combined for 37 points and 12 rebounds.
And while the two worked inside, doing what they could to bend the rim, Jake Wahlin worked along the perimeter to finish with a career night. The sophomore finished the night with 16 points, including going a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc, four rebounds and three assists to help Utah to a win.
All in all, though, it was a team effort on both sides of the ball, and Utah's best performance of the season in conference play.
For Oklahoma State, which over-pursued plays and got beat by several backdoor cuts to the rim by Utah, it was a night in which head coach Steve Lutz said his team was not its best in any facet of the game.
"They did a fantastic job tonight, from beginning to end, and out-competed us in every way imaginable," he said. "And for whatever reason, we did not give our best tonight; we did not play our best tonight. Simple as that.
"We didn't give enough effort. ... You've either got to fight and scrap and claw on the defensive end and give your best, or you don't," he added. "And tonight, we didn't give our best, and they made us pay for it. Give them credit."
Oklahoma State gets a majority of its points in transition off turnovers, but Utah limited those chances by only turning the ball over 11 times, which translated to 9 points for the Cowboys.
And then Utah took advantage in the post, where it outscored Oklahoma State 46-24. The success inside opened up the 3-point shooting — Utah only had six made 3-pointers — but was aided by 23 assists on 30 made baskets.
"I think we took a big step," Ausar said. "I'm not gonna say that we're 100% there, but we took a big step. Taking it game by game, execute every week's game plan."
Despite the night's success, Utah closed out the game on a six-minute scoring drought from the field, with the team's only points during that stretch coming from the free-throw line — the team was perfect from the line until 9:06 left in the game.
But Gabe Madsen went on a personal 5-0 run, including a dunk followed up by a deep 3-pointer, to get the Utes back on the board and to extend the lead by 20 points.
The Cowboys (9-6, 1-3 Big 12) were led in scoring by Bryce Thompson, who finished with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. Marchelus Avery added 13 points, while Brandon Newman finished with 10 points as the only other player in double figures.
