Utah Utes guard Pelle Larsson (3) drives down court as Oregon Ducks guard LJ Figueroa (12) plays defense during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles

Utah hung with No. 17 Oregon on Saturday at the Huntsman Center, but the Ducks made more plays down the stretch and they hung on for a 79-73 win.

The Utes trailed by just two with 1:40 remaining following a Riley Battin 3-pointer, but couldn’t take the lead late in the game. The Utes got within four on a pair of Timmy Allen free throws with 40 seconds, but fouled Eric Williams Jr. on the next possession, and he extended the lead to six. Alfonso Plummer missed a 3-pointer on Utah’s next trip down the court, which sealed the game.

Here are three takeaways from the Utes’ loss to the Ducks:

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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) goes to the hoop against Oregon Ducks forward Eric Williams Jr. (50) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) snags a loose ball as Oregon Ducks forward Eric Williams Jr. (50) tries to knock it away during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Aaron Estrada (24) goes to the hoop ahead of Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Mikael Jantunen (20) and teammates leave the court after their loss to the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) dunks during the game against the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) goes to the hoop ahead of Oregon Ducks guard LJ Figueroa (12) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Pelle Larsson (3) drives down court as Oregon Ducks guard LJ Figueroa (12) plays defense during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Pelle Larsson (3) shoots over Oregon Ducks forward Chandler Lawson (13) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) goes to the hoop against Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen (1) drives against Oregon Ducks guard Amauri Hardy (11) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte (5) goes to the hoop ahead of Utah Utes guard Ian Martinez (2) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (21) is guarded by Oregon Ducks forward Eugene Omoruyi (2) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak calls out to players during the game against the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Amauri Hardy (11) goes to the hoop against Utah Utes guard Alfonso Plummer (25) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Mikael Jantunen (20) goes to the hoop during the game against the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak and players watch as they trail the Oregon Ducks in the final minutes of the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman cheers on his team as they lead the Utah Utes in the final minutes of the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks forward Chandler Lawson (13) grabs the ball as Utah Utes guard Pelle Larsson (3) hits the boards during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks guard Amauri Hardy (11) goes to the hoop against Utah Utes guard Rylan Jones (15) during the game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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A moment of silence is observed for the late Utah football player Ty Jordan before the game between the Utah Utes and the Oregon Ducks at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
  • Utah’s offense looked as good as it has all season in the first half. The Utes led the Ducks 43-33 at the half, with Utah’s offense running like a well-oiled machine. Utah shot 66.7% from the field in the first 20 minutes and everything was clicking. Though the Utes shot 44% in the second half, turnovers gave the Ducks more possessions in the second half.
  • Timmy Allen was fantastic for the Utes in the first half, scoring 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting. but in the second, he had just six points and he was 1-for-3 from the field.
  • Utah entered the game ranked No. 5 in the country in turnovers committed, giving the ball away just 9.4 times per game. Oregon was able to force the Utes into 18 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Ducks turned the ball over just seven times.
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