In the recent clash between the Utah Runnin' Utes and Grand Canyon Antelopes at the Acrisure Classic series in Palm Springs, California, the Utah men's basketball team faced a tough 68-58 defeat, marking their second consecutive loss after a successful start to the season. Grand Canyon dominated the game from the outset, taking an early 11-3 lead and then managing to maintain control despite some short-lived comebacks from Utah.
Throughout the game, the Antelopes' defense was able to stifle Utah's offense, particularly by locking down Utah guard Terrence Brown, the team's leading scorer. Brown struggled under the pressure, only scoring 9 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Despite the defensive effort, Grand Canyon faced its own challenges on the offensive end, shooting just 40% from the field and missing all 10 of their 3-point attempts.
Utah, on the other hand, had difficulties with turnovers, committing 14 compared to Grand Canyon's six. The Antelopes capitalized on these turnovers, converting them into 17 crucial points. Free-throw shooting was another area of struggle for Utah, as they shot just 61% from the line, while Grand Canyon managed to hit 68.8% of their free throws.
In a silver lining for the Utes, they outrebounded Grand Canyon 40-33, showcasing some improvement in an area that has been a challenge for them in recent games. Don McHenry led Utah in scoring with 16 points, while Keanu Dawes put up a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome Grand Canyon's efficient scoring.
Looking ahead, Utah will face Ole Miss in the third-place game, aiming to bounce back from their back-to-back losses against lower-ranked teams. Ole Miss, currently rated No. 36 in KenPom rankings, will present another tough challenge for the Utes. On the other hand, Grand Canyon will advance to the winner bracket to face Iowa, a team receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings.
Despite the disappointing result against Grand Canyon, Utah remains focused on regrouping and improving their performance. Head coach Alex Jensen emphasized the need to address turnovers and free-throw shooting to avoid similar setbacks in future games. The Runnin' Utes are determined to turn the tide and demonstrate their potential as they navigate through a competitive basketball season.