Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) dribbles the ball down the court during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Brice Tucker, Deseret News
Brandon Judd
By Brandon Judd

KANSAS CITY — Utah’s first taste of the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament ended up being sour.

The No. 11 seed Runnin’ Utes couldn’t hold on to an early double-digit lead as hot-shooting No. 14 seed UCF beat Utah 87-72 in the nightcap of Tuesday’s first round action.

3 takeaways

3-point shooting flipped the game for the Knights. Neither team was able to get much going from 3-point range early in the contest, as Utah missed its first 10 from long range and UCF started 1 of 8.

The Utes built a 21-9 lead but the Knights started to cut into that deficit with some hot 3-point shooting, as UCF ended the first half making 6 of 10, including one just before the halftime buzzer to make it 40-39 going into the break.

The Knights ended up making 10 of 24 3-pointers, while the Utes were 4 of 26.

Keyshawn Hall scored a team-high 23 points for UCF, while Darius Johnson added 20 and Jordan Ivy-Curry had 15 while making three 3-pointers.

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Utah Utes guard Mason Madsen (45) looks off into the distance while hugging his brother, guard Gabe Madsen (55), after the Utah Utes lose to the UCF Knights, ending what is likely their last season of college basketball together, in a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) dribbles the ball down the court during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) and UCF Knights guard Keyshawn Hall (4) both compete for a rebound during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Jake Wahlin (10) competes for a rebound with UCF Knights guards Nils Machowski (22) and Keyshawn Hall (4) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Jake Wahlin (10) dunks the ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) drives the ball to the basket for a dunk during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) dribbles the ball down the court during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) puts up a shot while falling after tripping while driving toward the basket during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot while driving to the basket during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) dunks the ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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UCF Knights guard Keyshawn Hall (4) passes the ball while being guarded by Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) and forward Zach Keller (32) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) attempts to block a shot by UCF Knights guard Keyshawn Hall (4) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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UCF Knights guard Darius Johnson (3) passes the ball after Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) blocks his shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) guards UCF Knights guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (0) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Jake Wahlin (10) attempts to block a pass by UCF Knights guard Mikey Williams (1) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) dribbles the ball down the court during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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UCF Knights guard Keyshawn Hall (4), Utah Utes guard Mike Sharavjamts (25) and guard Gabe Madsen (55) all struggle for possession of the ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) puts up a 3-pointer shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) puts up a shot while being guarded by UCF Knights center Moustapha Thiam (52) during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Jake Wahlin (10) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Miro Little (1) and UCF Knights guards Nils Machowski (22) and Darius Johnson (3) all chase after a loose ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Hunter Erickson (0) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans cheer for the Utah spirit team during a timeout in a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes interim head coach Josh Eilert yells to his players from the sidelines during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) celebrates and hangs from the basket after dunking the ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Joul Karram (5) opens his arms for a hug with guard Mike Sharavjamts (25), while guard Mason Madsen (45) and center Lawson Lovering (34) hug each other after the Utah Utes lose to the UCF Knights in a first round game of the Big 12 Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Utah Utes were knocked out of the championship by the UCF Knights, with a final score of 87-72. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) reaches for a rebound during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lawson Lovering (34) puts up a shot during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Zach Keller (32) dunks the ball during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) dribbles the ball down the court during a first round game of the Big 12 Championship between the Utah Utes and the UCF Knights at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

The Knights put the game away early in the second half.

The second half couldn’t have started much worse for Utah. After both teams hit field goals in the first 1:10, the Knights went on a 24-3 run to build a 20-point lead.

UCF started the second half shooting 10 of 12 from the floor, while the Utes missed 10 straight field goals at one point.

By the time Keanu Dawes made 1 of 2 free throws, the Utes had gone more than four minutes without a score.

Scoring droughts have become a bane for Utah in the back half of conference play, including in its loss last Saturday at BYU when the Utes only trailed by four at halftime but trailed by as many as 19 in the second half.

This time, the Knights’ early second-half dominance built a big enough cushion for them to cruise to the win, even after a 15-4 run for the Utes briefly made it a single-digit deficit.

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Comments

Keanu Dawes led Utah’s paint attack. Dawes was a bright spot on a difficult night for Utah, as he made his first start this season with Ezra Ausar missing the game due to injury.

Dawes had 10 first-half rebounds and ended the night with a career-high 21 boards while adding a career-high 15 points.

The taller Utes took advantage of their size inside in the first half, going into the break with a 28-6 edge in points in the paint. UCF ended up cutting that to a 42-26 advantage by game’s end.

Utah won the rebounding edge at 40-35, including 18-8 on the offensive glass.

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