Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith reacts to a foul call
Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith reacts to a foul call during the game against the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. Spenser Heaps, 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.

No matter how poorly a season is going for Oregon, the Ducks always seem to have the answers when they play the Runnin’ Utes.

Oregon bounced back from a 27-point loss at Colorado last Thursday and upset the Utes 70-60 Saturday night at the rocking Huntsman Center.

Utah dropped to 5-1 in Pac-12 play, 12-5 overall. The Utes will play at league-leading UCLA on Thursday.

Here are three keys to the game:

• Utah went 3 of 21 from 3-point range and shot 36% from the field in suffering its first Pac-12 loss of the season. Trailing 63-51 with 3:41 left, Utah unleashed a wicked full-court press and forced some Oregon turnovers, but it was too little, too late for the home team.

• Utah has been one of the nation’s best defensive teams in moving out to a 5-0 record in league play, but Oregon shot 40% and made seven 3-pointers to get its third Pac-12 win. N’Faly Dante led the Ducks with 17 points.

• The Utes got off to a cold start, making only one of 11 3-point attempts in the first half, and shooting a frosty 27% from the floor to fall behind 34-27 at the halftime break. Oregon, which fell 68-41 at Colorado on Thursday, led 29-15 in the first half before Utah’s late-half run.

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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) comes under pressure from Oregon Ducks center Kel'el Ware (10) and center Nate Bittle (32) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (0) strips the ball from Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Brennan Rigsby (4), Utah Utes guard Wilguens Exacte Jr. (11) and Oregon Ducks guard Rivaldo Soares (11) jump on a loose ball during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith reacts to a foul call during the game against the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman argues with a referee during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard (5) goes to the hoop against Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) and center Branden Carlson (35) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) dunks during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle (32) goes to the hoop during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks center Kel'el Ware (10) shoots over Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) goes to the hoop past Utah Utes guard Wilguens Exacte Jr. (11) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) goes to the hoop between Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) and center Keba Keita (13) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard (5) shoots over Utah Utes forward Bostyn Holt (3) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) goes to the hoop between Oregon Ducks guard Rivaldo Soares (11) and center Kel'el Ware (10) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) goes to the hoop against Oregon Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard (5) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Wilguens Exacte Jr. (11) shoots over Oregon Ducks guard Jermaine Couisnard (5) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ben Carlson (1) and Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (0) collide during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) goes to the hoop against Oregon Ducks guard Brennan Rigsby (4) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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