Utah Shows Fight Down the Stretch in Loss to Arizona State

Wednesday, February 4

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

University of Utah

9-13,1-8Big 12

Arizona State

12-11,3-7Big 12

Arizona St.

Utah

Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics

Utah Shows Fight Down the Stretch in Loss to Arizona State

2/4/2026 10:28 PM | Men's Basketball

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Don McHenry's 23 points not enough in Utah’s home loss to the Sun Devils

By: Austin Eames

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team wrapped up its short homestand with a 71-63 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center Wednesday evening.

After trailing early in the contest, Utah (9-13, 1-8 Big 12) took a 5-4 advantage at 16:46 on a 5-0 run that included scores from Keanu Dawes and Seydou Traore.

Minutes later, after its opponent regained the lead, Utah guard Don McHenry got the home team within one possession (17-14) with back-to-back three-pointers assisted by Obomate Abbey. Despite McHenry's effort, the Utes entered the 11:50 media timeout down 22-14 to Arizona State.

A Traore trey at 5:21 marked the Utes' next field goal of the game. The basket was Utah's first after ASU amassed a 33-16 lead by way of a 16-2 scoring run that spanned 6:20 and began at the 12:17 mark.

ASU (12-11, 3-7 Big 12) maintained its advantage into the half, as Utah entered the break down 41-25.

The Utes fought their way back into the contest with a fiery 8-2 run to open the second half. Traore got things going with the frame's opening score, while minutes later, a McHenry layup at 15:08 closed the run and brought Utah within 43-36.

Utah and the Sun Devils continued to exchange blows as the half progressed. The Utes remained within striking distance behind improved shooting in the frame— hitting 43.8 percent of their attempts in the second compared to ASU's 23.1 percent shooting clip from the field and 11.1 percent from beyond the arc.

As the clock ticked down, a 6-0 got the Utes within 65-61 at the 1:41 mark, their closest point to tying the game. Despite coming within two possessions of tying, Utah was unable to close out its comeback, as the Sun Devils closed the contest perfect from the foul stripe and walked away with a 71-63 victory.

McHenry paced Utah with a team-high 23 points, 3 rebounds and a steal. Traore finished as the only other Utah player in double-figures with 16 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a block. James Okonkwo led the Utes in rebounding with a season-high 14 rebounds to go along with 6 points.

BY THE NUMBERS

James Okonkwo finished the game with a season-high 14 rebounds. Okonkwo's previous season-high mark was 13 rebounds against BYU (1/10/26).
Utah out rebounded the Sun Devils 37-36 in the contest.
- The game marks the second time this season that Utah has finished with two or more players with double-digit rebounds… First time was against Purdue Ft. Wayne on 11/18/25 (Okonkwo, 10; Dawes, 10).

UP NEXT
Utah will hit the road once again, this team heading to Lawrence, Kan., to play No. 14/11 Kansas this Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12:30 p.m. (MST) on FOX. Tim Brando will be on the call alongside former UConn forward Donny Marshall as the Runnin' Utes make take their first trip to Allen Fieldhouse.

LOOKING AHEAD
No rest for the weary as Utah returns home to host No. 10/8 Houston inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. (MST) on ESPN/2. Dave Flemming will have the call with former UCLA Bruin Sean Farnham as the Runnin' Utes and Cougars square off for the first time in SLC and fourth time ever as a program.

SEASON TICKETS & MINI PLANS
Fans can choose between two mini plans; the Saturday ONLY Plan starts at $125 while the Conference ONLY plan starts at $150. Single-game tickets for conference games are also on-sale starting at just $10 per ticket.

Fans interested in buy season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets (non-conference) can do so by going online at UtahTickets.com or by phone at 801-581-UTIX (8849).

For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, X and Instagram. Fans can also stay connected on their mobile devices or tablets with the Utah 360 app.

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