TAKEAWAYS: Utah Struggles in Loss to BYU, 75-66

The Runnin’ Utes went into Provo looking to make a statement that they have arrived under head coach Craig Smith. Instead, the game went how most of the rivalry games have gone for nearly two decades. After BYU took the lead near the end of the first half, a victory for the Cougars never really seemed in doubt, as they’d win 75-66.

Here are the takeaways from the game:

It just wasn’t Utah’s day

Everybody and every team has off days, Utah just happened to have theirs against their rival. Branden Carlson once again led the way with 18 points, but he was 1-5 on three-pointers before fouling out. Marco Anthony, Gabe Madsen, Rollie Worster and Lazar Stefanovic were all in double-figures with 11,11, 12 and 12, respectively.

All of those key guys had rough stretches in the game. Worster and Stefanovic were a combined 1-10 from long distance. Stefanovic was only 3-11 from the field, but went a perfect 5-5 from the free-throw line. The group as a whole committed 10 of Utah’s 14 turnovers, a category in which led to a 21-10 points off turnovers advantage for BYU.

Traore and Williams were were a thorn in Utah’s side

Fousseyni Traore scored the first 10 points of the game for BYU on his way to 17 points on the night. It was just the start the Cougars needed as Utah was hoping to come into a tough environment and pop their rivals in the mouth to start the game.

Utah was outscored 28-12 on bench points, as Rudi Williams tied his BYU career high with 26 points. The Utes had no answers for him at the point guard position. A crucial point in the game came when Utah was up 22-20 with 6:44 left in the first half. Williams drilled a go-ahead three-pointer and hit another on back-to-back possessions. This sequence opened up a lead that BYU would never relinquish.

BYU is currently dominating the basketball rivalry

Sure fans might say that the football games between these two have lost their luster, but in basketball, the rivalry is alive and thriving. The Utes are 5-15 against BYU dating back to the 2007 season.

This year, Utah came into Provo with the hot team and a team everyone was intrigued about. However, BYU rode their momentum from recently beating No. 21 Creighton, while Utah came out looking flat and struggling for three-fourths of the rivalry game.

Up next

The Runnin’ Utes need to regroup themselves fast, as they have a neutral site matchup with No. 21 TCU on Wednesday at Vivint Arena. The Horned Frogs come into the game at 8-1 and will likely move higher up when the new rankings are released.

After the big matchup, Utah will take a Christmas break before jumping back into Pac-12 play.