The Utes pulled away from the visiting Sun Devils in the second half
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Brice Tucker, Deseret News
Josh Eilert got his first victory as Utah’s interim coach, as the Runnin’ Utes beat Arizona State 99-73 Saturday night at the Huntsman Center.
That snapped a two-game losing streak for Utah, which has gone through an emotional week after head coach Craig Smith was fired Monday.
3 takeaways
Arizona State had no answer for Utah in the paint. With freshman forward Jayden Quaintance out with a right knee injury — he was one of several absences for the short-handed Sun Devils — Arizona State struggled to keep up with Utes in the paint.
That was led by a 25-point effort from Ezra Ausar, who not only shot 7 of 10 from the floor but 11 of 14 from the free-throw line.
The Utes ended up outscoring Arizona State 48-20 in the paint and owned a 40-29 edge on the boards.
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) drives the ball to the basket during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) drives the ball to the basket during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) attempts to steal a rebound from Arizona State Sun Devils forward Basheer Jihad (8) during a NCAA mens basketball game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) dunks the ball during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) puts up a 3-pointer shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) passes the ball during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) drives the ball to the basket during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) dunks the ball during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) brings the ball to the basket while being guarded by Arizona State Sun Devils forward Basheer Jihad (8) during a NCAA mens basketball game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Brady Smith (6) dribbles the ball down the court during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) brings the ball to the basket for a lay up during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Mason Madsen (45) dribbles the ball sown the court during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) and guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) both guard Arizona State Sun Devils guard Joson Sanon (3) during a NCAA mens basketball game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) attempts to block a shot by Arizona State Sun Devils guard Joson Sanon (3) during a NCAA mens basketball game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes interim head coach Josh Eilert signals to his players from the sidelines during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes interim head coach Josh Eilert watches from the sidelines during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players celebrate from the sideline after a basket by Utah Utes guard Brady Smith (6) during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Utah Utes won the game with a final score of 99-73. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) drives to the basket during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) passes the ball during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) puts up a shot during a NCAA mens basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
Utah tightened up its defense in the second half as it pulled away. Going into halftime, Arizona State led 43-41 as both teams shot over 55% in the opening half.
Utah, though, used a 16-2 second-half run to pull away and held the shorthanded Sun Devils to 29% shooting in the second half, while shooting 55.9%.
Keanu Dawes and Mason Madsen led the bench effort. As he’s prone to do, Keanu Dawes again had a standout performance off the bench.
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He ended up with a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Mason Madsen, meanwhile, added 13 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers as Utah made 8 of 14 3s after halftime.
What’s next
The Utes (16-13, 8-10 Big 12) will stay in Salt Lake City for their home finale against West Virginia Tuesday (7 p.m. MST, ESPN+) at the Huntsman Center.
The Mountaineers (17-11, 8-9 Big 12) played at BYU later Saturday.
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