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Utah Utes Struggle at United Supermarkets Arena as Texas Tech Red Raiders Dominate the Paint

The Utah Utes faced a challenging game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the United Supermarkets Arena, ending with a 74-88 loss. This result brings Utah's record to 0-1, while Texas Tech improves to 1-0.


Jan 14, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) and Utah Utes forward James Okonkwo (32) vie for the opening tip at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

First Half


The first half saw the Utes putting up a strong fight, scoring 38 points. Don McHenry was instrumental in keeping Utah competitive with his impressive shooting accuracy, contributing significantly to their score. However, the Red Raiders took an early lead by capitalizing on their offensive rebounds and fast breaks, amassing 50 points by halftime.


Second Half


In the second half, Utah continued to battle but struggled defensively against Texas Tech's aggressive play in the paint. The Red Raiders' dominance was evident as they scored another 38 points. Keanu Dawes made notable contributions for Utah with his rebounding efforts and scoring ability but it wasn't enough to close the gap.


Jan 14, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Utah Utes guard Terrence Brown (2) dribbles the ball around Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Donovan Atwell (12) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Despite their efforts, what went wrong for Utah Utes was their inability to contain Texas Tech's efficient field goal percentage of 51 percent and control turnovers which led to crucial points off turnovers for their opponents.


Post Game Analysis


The post game analysis highlights that while players like McHenry and Dawes showed promise with high efficiency scores of 13.6 and 15.7 respectively, overall team performance fell short due to defensive lapses and missed opportunities in transition plays.


Jan 14, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Christian Anderson (4) calls a play while bringing the ball up court against the Utah Utes in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Looking ahead, fans can catch more action when Utah hosts TCU Horned Frogs on January 17th at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City at 2:00 PM EST on TNT network.


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