Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots over Utah Valley Wolverines forward Ethan Potter (35) on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots over Utah Valley Wolverines forward Ethan Potter (35) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles
Joe covers University of Utah sports for the Deseret News.

Utah extended its win streak to five games on Saturday afternoon, defeating Utah Valley 76-62 at the Huntsman Center.

Here are three takeaways from the Utes’ win:

  • Georgia Tech transfer Deivon Smith played his first game as a Runnin’ Ute after the NCAA said two-time transfers could play until the end of the season, due to a court injunction in place through the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

Smith, who has been practicing with the team, was inserted for the first time with about 11 minutes left in the first half. Utah immediately entrusted him with ball-handling duties, as he brought the ball up right after entering the game.

Smith assumed the backup primary ball-handling role for the majority of the time that he was in during the first half, but played more off-ball during his second-half minutes.

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He finished with no points, two assists and a steal in 11 minutes in his first NCAA game since February 11.

  • Utah led by just six points with 4:30 left in the game, but the Utes finished the game on a 9-1 run to close it out, limiting UVU to 0 for 6 shooting the rest of the way.
  • Branden Carlson led Utah with 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting, adding seven rebounds. Gabe Madsen and Rollie Worster had 13 points each for the Utes.
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Utah Utes guard Cole Bajema (2) dunks over Utah Valley Wolverines guard Drake Allen (3) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots over Utah Valley Wolverines forward Ethan Potter (35) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) dunks during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Deivon Smith (5) strips the ball from Utah Valley Wolverines guard Drake Allen (3) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) dives for the ball but is charged with a traveling violation during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) dunks during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) hypes up the crowd after sinking a three during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) meets Utah Valley Wolverines guard Drake Allen (3) at the hoop at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines forward Caleb Stone-Carrawell (25) drives against Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines center Trevin Dorius (32) shoots over Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith calls out from the bench during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines guard Drake Allen (3) goes to the hoop ahead of Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) celebrates with fans after the Utes beat the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines forward Caleb Stone-Carrawell (25) goes to the hoop between Utah Utes guard Cole Bajema (2) and center Branden Carlson (35) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines center Trevin Dorius (32) goes to the hoop against Utah Utes guard Hunter Erickson (0) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines guard Tanner Toolson (5) puts the ball in during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines guard Jaden McClanahan (13) goes to the hoop during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) drives during the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ben Carlson (1) goes to the hoop against Utah Valley Wolverines forward Caleb Stone-Carrawell (25) and center Trevin Dorius (32) at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Valley Wolverines head coach Todd Phillips talks to his bench during the game against the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith celebrates with fans after the Utes beat the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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