The Utah Men’s Basketball Team opened the week with a home victory over Purdue Fort Wayne, improving to 5-0 under head coach Alex Jensen in the Acrisure Series. Utah jumped out quickly against Purdue Fort Wayne, taking an early lead with a 3-pointer from Terrence Brown. Moments later, Kendyl Sanders finished a fast-break layup off an assist from Brown to push the score to 13‑7. Seydou Traore added back-to-back baskets in the middle of the half, keeping Utah ahead as the Mastodons tried to respond. The Utes’ defense forced multiple turnovers, including a steal by Traore that led to another layup. Brown hit a second 3-pointer at the 5-minute mark to maintain Utah’s momentum. Utah also took advantage of second-chance opportunities, converting offensive rebounds into points that extended the lead. Purdue Fort Wayne had brief stretches of scoring, but Utah’s balanced attack, strong ball movement, and efficient shooting kept the Mastodons from closing the gap. By halftime, Utah led 42‑32, having controlled the boards and limited mistakes. The Utes’ combination of perimeter shooting, quick transition plays, and disciplined defense set the tone for the rest of the game. However, the Runnin’ Utes were unable to carry that momentum into Thursday night, falling 92-85 to Cal Poly at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah trailed for much of the game, despite another strong performance from junior transfer Brown, who scored 29 points and added three assists. The loss marks both the program’s first defeat to Cal Poly and the first setback of the Alex Jensen era, ending what had been a five-game winning streak to start the season. Cal Poly jumped ahead in the first half, with Hamad Mousa scoring seven points during a late run that helped the Mustangs take a 50-39 lead into halftime. Utah tried to respond in the second half, closing the gap to within two points on a 12-3 run, but Cal Poly countered with a 12-2 stretch to push the lead back into double digits. In addition to Brown’s 29 points, Don McHenry contributed 16 points, while Keanu Dawes added 10; however, the Runnin’ Utes were out-rebounded 42-32 and struggled to limit turnovers. Despite solid individual efforts, mental lapses and defensive breakdowns prevented Utah from keeping pace with Cal Poly’s efficient offense. All season, Coach Jensen has emphasized the importance of focus and consistency, particularly on the defensive end. Jensen has repeatedly pointed to mental lapses as a key issue limiting the team’s performance. After the win against Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday, Jensen addressed the issue directly, reinforcing the idea that each player’s mindset and awareness on the court are just as important as their individual skills. “I tell our guys all the time especially the last days is not to beat ourselves. I think it’s just a mindset of, ’how I fit on the court with the other four guys, and what my job is,” said Jensen, “Then we end up [committing] turnovers or we just kind of lose that mental focus on our job and how we fit into the team.” That mindset appeared to catch up with the Utes on Thursday night against Cal Poly. Utah struggled to maintain focus for long stretches, allowing the Mustangs to pull ahead and hold the lead for much of the game. The Runnin’ Utes will be looking to bounce back next Tuesday at Grand Canyon University, in a continuation of the Acrisure Classic-tip-off at 10 pm MT.
https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2025/11/23/utah-splits-two-game-set-shocked-by-cal-poly-for-the-first-loss-in-jensen-era/