SALT LAKE CITY — After spending the early minutes probing a stubborn zone and surviving its own rebounding mistakes, Keanu Dawes and the Runnin’ Utes flipped the switch, shredded the coverage with ruthless efficiency, and turned a competitive first half into a 101–75 runaway at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Utah won the game on efficiency, pace, and decision-making, and the data shows exactly when and how the gap opened.
Utah’s offensive efficiency was impressive
Utah finished the night at 1.53 points per possession, compared to Eastern Washington’s 1.07 PPP. That differential alone explains the margin.
This wasn’t a hot shooting night built on tough jumpers:
- 68.4% overall shooting (39-of-57)
- 52.4% from three (11-of-21)
- 23 assists on 39 made field goals (59% assist rate)
That assist rate matters. It confirms Utah’s offense wasn’t living on isolation or bailout shots — it was generating paint touches first, forcing the zone to collapse, and spraying the ball to shooters on time and on balance…