If you were looking for the score of the Utah Utes game from Wednesday night, I’ve got the numbers, but they aren't exactly pretty for the Salt Lake City faithful. The Runnin' Utes headed into a hostile United Supermarkets Arena to face No. 15 Texas Tech, and while they flashed some serious heart, they eventually folded in an 88-74 loss.
It was a tough pill to swallow.
The Utes are now sitting at a frustrating 0-4 in Big 12 play. Honestly, moving into this conference was always going to be a gauntlet, but seeing that goose egg in the win column hurts. Especially when you consider that this team actually outscored Texas Tech from the bench 18-2. You’d think a bench mob like that would secure a road win, but the starters just couldn't contain JT Toppin.
The kid was a nightmare.
Breaking Down the Score of the Utah Utes Game
Let’s look at how this 88-74 result actually materialized. The final margin makes it look like a standard double-digit win for the Red Raiders, but there was a moment in the first half where Utah fans actually had something to cheer about.
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After a shaky start, the Utes went on an 8-0 run. Freshman Kendyl Sanders hit a layup that cut the lead to 15-14, and then Obomate Abbey—another freshman—drained a three to give Utah a 20-19 lead at the 10:45 mark.
Then the wheels fell off.
Texas Tech responded with a brutal 23-4 run. It was like watching a slow-motion car crash. Utah went over five minutes without a single field goal, and by the time they looked at the scoreboard again, they were down 42-24.
Key Stats From the Matchup
- Final Score: Texas Tech 88, Utah 74.
- The Toppin Factor: JT Toppin put up 31 points and 13 rebounds.
- Utes Leaders: Keanu Dawes (18 pts, 9 reb), Don McHenry (18 pts), and Terrence Brown (17 pts).
- Three-Point Shooting: Utah actually shot a blistering 48% from deep (12-of-25), but it wasn't enough to overcome the points in the paint.
The Utes tried to claw back in the second half. Keanu Dawes hit a couple of massive triples to get the deficit down to nine points, but every time Utah got close, Texas Tech’s Donovan Atwell would answer with a dagger from distance.
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Why the Defense is Struggling in the Big 12
It’s no secret that the Big 12 is a defensive meat grinder. For the Utes, the transition has been rocky. In their last few outings—losses to Arizona, Colorado, and now Texas Tech—the common theme has been an inability to stop elite interior scorers.
Texas Tech shot over 51% from the floor. You just can’t win road games in this conference when you’re letting the home team shoot that efficiently.
Utah’s defense forced 11 turnovers, but they were outrebounded 41-28. That’s the game right there. When you give up that many second-chance opportunities to a top-25 team, the score of the Utah Utes game is almost always going to end up in the opponent's favor.
A Look Back at the Football Season’s End
While the basketball team is grinding through January, we shouldn't forget how the football team capped off their year. On December 31, 2025, the Utes absolutely dismantled Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl with a final score of 44-22.
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Devon Dampier was the star of that show, throwing for 310 yards and rushing for another 148. It was a masterclass in dual-threat quarterbacking. That win gave the football program an 11-2 finish and a No. 15 ranking in the final AP poll. It’s a bit of a "tale of two seasons" right now in Salt Lake City—the football team is flying high while the basketball team is searching for its identity.
What's Next for the Runnin' Utes?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. Next up is a home game against TCU on Saturday, January 17, at the Huntsman Center.
If Utah wants to turn this around, they have to figure out the glass. Keanu Dawes has been one rebound shy of a double-double eight times this season. He needs help down there. If the Utes can't find a way to secure defensive rebounds, they’ll be looking at another lopsided score in their next conference matchup.
Actionable Next Steps for Utes Fans:
- Watch the TCU Game: It tips off at 12:00 PM on Saturday. The Huntsman Center needs to be loud to help break this 0-4 streak.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the health of the frontcourt rotation; depth is becoming a major issue as they face bigger Big 12 bodies.
- Support the Women’s Team: They play Houston on the road this Saturday (January 17) following a tough 61-45 loss to Baylor. They are 13-5 and still very much in the hunt.
The path forward for Utah basketball involves tightening up the transition defense and finding a way to win the battle on the boards. Without those two things, the Big 12 will continue to be a very long, very difficult road.