Utah center Branden Carlson drives down the court during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Ryan Sun, Deseret News
Jay Drew
By Jay Drew
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.

This current batch of Utah Runnin’ Utes showed former players that they may have what it takes to return the program to its past days of glory, walloping Washington 86-61 Saturday on Alumni Night at the Huntsman Center.

Two nights after registering a career-high 28 points in a blowout of Washington State, Utes center Branden Carlson had 25 points and eight rebounds Saturday as Utah improved to 7-3 in Pac-12 play, 14-7 overall.

Washington fell to 4-6 and 12-9.

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Utah center Branden Carlson balances a loose ball during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen celebrates after scoring during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen celebrates with teammate Rollie Worster after scoring during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen celebrates after scoring during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah forward Ben Carlson prepares to take a free throw during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson drives down the court during a NCAA college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah forward Ben Carlson (1) lays the ball up during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Rollie Worster (25) lays the ball up during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) dunks the ball during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) dunks the ball during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Rollie Worster (25) battles with Washington guard Cole Bajema (22) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen (55) drives to the basket against Washington forward Keion Brooks Jr. (1) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) lays the ball up under pressure during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) celebrates after scoring a basket during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Keba Keita (13) fumbles a ball in the air during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Keba Keita (13) is surrounded by teammates after an injury during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Keba Keita (13) looks to the basket during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) drives down the court during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Marco Anthony (10) looks down court during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) jumps to block a shot by Washington guard Koren Johnson at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) leaps for a loose ball during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen (55) shoots over Washington guard Keyon Menifield (23) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) dunks the ball during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Marco Anthony (10) shoots the ball during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah center Branden Carlson (35) lays the ball up during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Gabe Madsen (55) prepares to stop during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah guard Rollie Worster (25) drives down the court during a game against Washington at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Rollie Worster came within a rebound of a triple-double, posting 11 points, 10 assists and nine boards. The junior had a shot at a 10th rebound in the final minute, but it went to Marco Anthony instead. 

Anthony had a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

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Here are 3 keys to Utah’s home win:

• Utah stayed hot shooting the ball, and led wire-to-wire against a Huskies team that was coming off an upset of Colorado on Thursday and had won three straight games. Utah finished shooting 51% from the floor.

• The Utes carved up Washington’s famed zone defense, forcing the Huskies to abandon that style and play more man-to-man defense. Utes guard Gabe Madsen found his shooting stroke after a couple of rough outings, and finished with 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting.

• Utah turned up the defense after a slow start, and held the Huskies to 35% shooting; Keion Brooks Jr. led Washington with 17 points, but needed 19 shots to get there.

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