Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) tries to foul Oregon Ducks guard Payton Pritchard (3) as the last few seconds tick down as Utah falls 64-69 to Oregon in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Brandon Judd
By Brandon Judd
Brandon covers sports for the Deseret News, with an emphasis on the University of Utah and the NFL.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah went into the final minute against No. 4 Oregon trailing by only three points, but the Utes couldn’t score down the stretch in falling 69-64 to the Ducks on Saturday at the Huntsman Center.

Timmy Allen missed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds to play that would have tied the game, and Oregon’s Chris Duarte had a dunk with three seconds left to seal the win as Utah didn’t score in the final two and a half minutes.

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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (11) goes up for a dunk as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) is fouled by Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (21) tries to defend Oregon Ducks forward Chandler Lawson (13) as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) comes up holding his side after falling to the floor with Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) tries to foul Oregon Ducks guard Payton Pritchard (3) as the last few seconds tick down as Utah falls 64-69 to Oregon in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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A referee and fans point the direction of the possession as Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) and Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) fell to the floor chasing the ball as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (11) tries to get off a shot with Oregon Ducks forward Shakur Juiston (10) defending him as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) reacts after a call as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (11) reacts after not getting a call on a drive to the hoop as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) celebrates with fans as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (21) goes for a layup as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Payton Pritchard (3) gestures to the fans after hitting a 3-point shot as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman talks with his players during a timeout as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Oregon players celebrate as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks forward Francis Okoro (33) is blocked at the rim by Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) reacts after a foul call as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak reacts to a referee as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) puts up a shot with Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) defending as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) and Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) look at the ball as it gets away from them as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Oregon won 69-64. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lahat Thioune (32) blocks a shot by Oregon Ducks guard Anthony Mathis (32) as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) grabs the ball as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (11) puts the ball out for a layup just before Oregon Ducks center N'Faly Dante (1) knocks it down as Utah and Oregon play in an NCAA basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Here are three takeaways that defined the game:

  • Utah (10-4, 1-1 Pac-12) trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half, but a 12-0 run got the Utes back in it. That included a seven-point possession — a 3-pointer from Mikael Jantunen, two Allen free throws off a flagrant foul and an Allen putback — that put the Utes ahead 58-56.
  • The Ducks (12-3, 1-1), who surged back ahead with an 8-2 run to go up 67-62 before the tight final minute, outshot Utah from the field — 45.5% to 35.6% — and had distinct edges in bench points (28 to 13) and points in the paint (42 to 22). The Utes hit more 3-pointers, nine to six, and were 13 of 20 from the free-throw line, compared to 3 of 4 for Oregon. 
  • Payton Pritchard led the Ducks with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds while hitting three 3-pointers. Both Gach had a game-high 24 points and four 3-pointers for Utah, while Allen added 19 points and 11 rebounds, though he struggled shooting — 33% from the field.

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