KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 11: Utah basketball faced UCF Knights for the first round of the Big 12 tournament and fell 87-72, ending their season. This marks the Runnin' Utes' first appearance at the tournament where they showcased both promise and difficulties due to injury setbacks.
The game began with the Utes showing strength, quickly building momentum with their initial plays. Utah went up 21-9 at one point during the first half, led by starters Mike Sharavjamts and Keanu Dawes, who made powerful contributions. Dawes, who had been thrust onto the starting lineup due to Ezra Ausar's recent knee injury, was impressive, recording 21 points and 15 rebounds, effectively proving his capabilities as he fought to help secure the team's advantage.
Despite their strong start, UCF clawed back, showing resilience and adaptability. Jordan Ivy-Curry sparked the Knights with 15 points, with Darius Johnson and Keyshawn Hall contributing 20 and 23 points respectively. Hall, named to the All-Big 12 second team just the day before, was particularly effective, scoring 17 points alone during the second half. UCF transformed their game with strategic shooting after halftime, converting 71.4% of their shots and hitting 10 three-pointers during the game.
“We had great energy at the start, but we struggled to maintain it,” said interim head coach Josh Eilert. “The shot-making from UCF was incredible, especially when you talk about being able to hit those big shots consistently.”
While Utah led at halftime 40-39, they could not translate their first-half dominance to the second half, where UCF executed their game plan to perfection. After trailing early, the Knights opened the second half with explosive energy, going on a 22-3 run which shifted the momentum heavily in their favor. This quick series of plays left Utah scrambling as they watched their lead evaporate.
“We needed more consistency, and without Ezra it really hurt us,” Eilert reflected, referring to Ausar's absence. Ausar, who suffered the injury against BYU on March 8, was noticeably missed—particularly as he had contributed significantly to the team's recent games.
Dawes noted, “It was great being able to perform at this level, but at the same time, it doesn’t mean much if you don’t win.” Reflecting on his overall performance, he credited his development throughout the season, saying, “I’ve dedicated myself to improving every day, and it feels good to finally see some of my hard work pay off.”
The Runnin' Utes managed to dominate the paint, outscoring UCF 28-6 inside the arc during the first half and gathering 40 rebounds to the Knights' 35. Despite this, struggles beyond the arc proved detrimental as Utah finished with just 4-of-26 shooting from three-point range.
Even with their scoring and rebounding advantages, the Utes were unable to keep pace with UCF's second-half resurgence. “We had some great plays, but we just couldn't get it done when it mattered,” said Dawes. He was one of several players to contribute offensively, with Gabe Madsen scoring 10 points and Lawson Lovering adding 11.
Following their loss, the team will likely face uncertainty as they transition out of the tournament and look toward future seasons. The coaching situation remains uncertain as Eilert, who took over after the dismissal of former coach Craig Smith, awaits clarity on whether he will stay on or not.
UCF will move on to face the sixth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks next, continuing their run through the tournament. Meanwhile, the Utes are left to regroup and evaluate their plans for the coming years, hoping to build from the experiences gained this season.