Utah Utes bench celebrate a three point shot as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Scott G Winterton, 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.

Utah moved into third place in the Pac-12 on Saturday night, defeating rival Colorado 73-62 at the Huntsman Center.

Branden Carlson scored a game-high 17 points and Marco Anthony added 15 as the Utes improved to 17-9 overall, 10-5 in Pac-12 play. Colorado, which will host the Utes in a regular-season finale on March 4, dropped to 14-12 and 6-9.

Here are 3 keys to Utah’s decisive win over Colorado:

• It wasn’t Utah’s cleanest game of the season offensively, but the Utes turned to their trademark sticky defense and picked up their second-straight win. Utah held Colorado to 38% shooting from the field.

• Colorado 7-footer Lawson Lovering was saddled with foul trouble and Utah’s 7-footer, Carlson, took full advantage. The Utah senior added three blocked shots, four rebounds and three assists to his scoring total.

Utah dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 40-29.

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Utah Utes forward Ben Carlson (1) throws the ball past Colorado Buffaloes guard Julian Hammond III (1) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) grabs a rebound as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) dunks the ball as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) drives on Colorado Buffaloes guard Luke O'Brien (0) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes bench celebrate a three point shot as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) lays in a shot as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) and Colorado Buffaloes guard Javon Ruffin (11) battle for a rebound as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) shoots over Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva (23) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Marco Anthony (10) shoots over Colorado Buffaloes guard Jalen Gabbidon (3) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith cheers after a play as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) tries to defend Colorado Buffaloes guard Jalen Gabbidon (3) at the hoop as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) tries to explain after being hit with a technical foul as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) blocks Colorado Buffaloes center Lawson Lovering (34) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Marco Anthony (10) goes to work on Colorado Buffaloes guard Luke O'Brien (0) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith calls out instructions as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) fouls Colorado Buffaloes guard Luke O'Brien (0) on a breakaway as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) flips up a shot with Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) defending as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Colorado Buffaloes guard Julian Hammond III (1) and Colorado Buffaloes guard Ethan Wright (14) defend Utah Utes guard Marco Anthony (10) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) defends Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Colorado Buffaloes guard Julian Hammond III (1) goes under Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Utah won 73-62. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Keba Keita (13) grabs a rebound from Colorado Buffaloes guard Jalen Gabbidon (3) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rollie Worster (25) drives on Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Wilguens Exacte Jr. (11) throws the ball back into play as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva (23) and Colorado Buffaloes guard Jalen Gabbidon (3) battle Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) for the ball as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) works to get away from Colorado Buffaloes center Lawson Lovering (34) as Utah and Colorado play in the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

• Utah set the tone early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead and leading by as many as 11 points in the first half before settling for a 38-32 lead at the break. Utah shot 52% in the first half, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range, and never trailed in the contest.

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