Utah’s historically bad men’s basketball season got even worse Wednesday night as Washington State routed the Runnin’ Utes 71-54 at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington. It was Utah’s ninth-straight loss, matching the longest losing streak in program history.
Utah last lost nine straight games during the 1935-36 season.
Here are 3 keys to the Runnin’ Utes’ 10th Pac-12 loss:
• Utah’s turnover problems returned as the Runnin’ Utes gave the ball away 19 times, including 13 in the first half that allowed Wazzu to jump out to a 33-25 halftime lead. The Cougars scored 19 points off Utah’s turnovers.
• It was a fairly competitive game until Washington State went on a 22-3 run in the second half to take a 55-32 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Utes put together an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 15 with 12 minutes remaining, but WSU regained the momentum and cruised to its fourth Pac-12 win.
• Utah center Branden Carlson returned after sitting out the last five games after an appendectomy on Jan. 8. Carlson looked a bit rusty after entering the game with 15:53 left in the first half but hit a 3-pointer in the second half and finished with eight points in 19 minutes.