The Utah Runnin’ Utes delivered an emphatic performance just before the Christmas break, earning a convincing 101–77 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday night at the Huntsman Center. This result marked Utah’s largest winning margin of the season, offering momentum heading into tougher competition ahead.
Playing their final nonconference home game, the Utes showcased depth, energy, and efficiency across the lineup. Keanu Dawes, Terrence Brown, and Don McHenry led the charge in a game where nearly every rotation player made an impact.
Head coach Alex Jensen praised his team’s consistency, noting that Utah stayed disciplined and executed the game plan for a full 40 minutes.
How the Game Unfolded
A Slow Start Turns into Full Control
The matchup began unevenly, with Eastern Washington briefly taking an 8–6 lead four minutes in. Utah quickly responded with a 7–0 run, shifting the momentum back in favor of the home team.
For the next stretch, play remained competitive. However, Utah broke things open midway through the first half with a 16–4 surge, building a 40–27 advantage.
That run proved decisive. Over the final 7:53 of the first half, the Utes outscored the Eagles 26–11, heading into halftime with a commanding 50–34 lead.
Red-Hot Shooting Sets the Tone
Utah’s offense was nearly unstoppable in the opening half. The Utes shot 74.1% from the field and hit 6 of 10 from three-point range. This performance ranked as the second-best first-half shooting display by a Big 12 team this season, trailing only Iowa State’s outing against Alcorn State.
Second Half: Pulling Away Late
The second half opened with back-and-forth action. Utah stretched the lead to 20 points early, but Eastern Washington stayed competitive enough to delay a runaway finish.
That changed near the nine-minute mark, when Utah rattled off a 12–3 run over three minutes, pushing the lead to a then game-high 21 points. From there, the Utes closed strong, extending the margin in the final minutes to seal their most dominant win of the year.
Traore Returns, Patrick Sits Again
Ibi Traore Makes His Season Debut
Saturday also marked the long-awaited return of Ibi Traore, who appeared in his first regular-season game after missing last season due to injury. Traore logged nine minutes, converting his lone shot while adding two points, one rebound, and a steal.
Coach Jensen emphasized Traore’s readiness and resilience, praising his effort after a lengthy recovery process.
Jacob Patrick Remains Out
For the second straight game, sharpshooter Jacob Patrick was unavailable and watched in street clothes. While his absence did not impact the outcome, it allowed other guards to gain valuable experience. Patrick had shown promise earlier in nonconference play, and his return will be something to monitor moving forward.
What Comes Next for Utah
Utah improves to 8–4 and will enjoy a short break before returning to action in nine days. The Utes travel to Seattle on December 29 to face former Pac-12 rival Washington Huskies, a matchup that will serve as the final tune-up before conference play.
Big 12 action begins quickly after, with a January 3 home showdown against No. 1 Arizona Wildcats at the Huntsman Center.
Interior Play: A Growing Area of Focus
Eastern Washington challenged Utah with size, collecting 18 offensive rebounds compared to Utah’s five. Still, the Eagles were unable to capitalize fully, as Utah only trailed 13–10 in second-chance points.
The Eagles scored 38 points in the paint, but Utah answered with 52, showing overall efficiency inside. Eastern Washington’s leading scorers were two 6-foot-9 forwards—Alton Hamilton IV and Kiree Huie—each recording strong rebounding nights.
Utah’s upcoming opponents present an even stiffer interior test. Washington features Hannes Steinbach, a 6-foot-11 German big averaging 17.5 points and 11.9 rebounds, while Arizona boasts one of the strongest frontcourts in the nation.
