Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak, right, talks to Timmy Allen during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles
Joe covers University of Utah sports for the Deseret News.
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Utah dropped its second consecutive game, losing 64-46 to USC on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from the game:

  • The Utes struggled mightily on offense. Utah shot 17-for-61 (28%) from the field for the game and 3-for-22 (14%) from 3. The Utes fell apart in the second half, shooting just 13% from the field. In the second half, Utah went seven minutes without a field goal.
  • As bad as Utah’s offense was, its defense prevented USC from running away with it as much as it could. The Utes held the Trojans to their second-lowest scoring output of the season, forcing 15 turnovers and slowing down the pace of the game to keep it somewhat competitive until the Trojans pulled away at the end.
  • Only Ian Martinez scored in double figures for the Utes, with 10 points. Other than Martinez, every other Ute scored in single digits.
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Utah's Timmy Allen dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Pelle Larsson, left, and Mikael Jantunen pressure Southern California's Drew Peterson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Southern California's Isaiah White, right, reacts after making a basket as Utah's Rylan Jones watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Rylan Jones, center, passes the ball as he is defended by Southern California's Isaiah White, right, and Chevez Goodwin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Mikael Jantunen shoots during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Alfonso Plummer, center, drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Alfonso Plummer reacts to a basket made by Rylan Jones during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Southern California, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Timmy Allen(1) is defended by Southern California's Isaiah Mobley(3) and Evan Mobley during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Mikael Jantunen, top, shoots over Southern California's Tahj Eaddy during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Pelle Larsson, center, is surrounded by Southern California players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-46. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Utah's Mikael Jantunen, front, and Southern California's Isaiah Mobley fight for position during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-46. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Southern California's Tahj Eaddy, left, drives past Utah's Ian Martinez during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-46. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Southern California's Drew Peterson, left, pressures Utah's Timmy Allen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-46. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Southern California's Tahj Eaddy, left, is pressured by Utah's Pelle Larsson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-46. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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