Gabe Madsen scored 24 points to help Utah defeat No. 17 Kansas 74-67 in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, marking the Utes’ first victory over a ranked team this season.
The Utes lost their first three games against teams in the top 25, but they never trailed against the Jayhawks (17-8, 8-6 Big 12). Kansas has alternated wins and losses over its past eight games overall.
Utah (14-11, 6-8) also got 12 points from Ezra Ausar and 10 points and 12 rebounds from Jake Wahlin.
Kansas was led by Zeke Mayo, who finished with 15 points. Dajuan Harris Jr. added 14 and Hunter Dickinson chipped in 12 to go along with seven boards.
After seeing a double-digit lead cut to just two points, 39-37, at halftime, Utah outscored Kansas 21-12 at the start of the second half to match its largest lead of the game. The last two points of that run came on a pair of free throws by Madsen after Kansas coach Bill Self was called for a technical foul.
The Utes then went 7:17 without scoring, allowing the Jayhawks to erase the Utah lead. Kansas used an 11-0 run to tie the game at 60. But on the possession where the visitors pulled even, Mayo rolled his left ankle and headed to the locker room with 4:59 left. Flory Bidunga took Mayo’s spot at the free-throw line and went 1-for-2.
Mayo returned to the game at the final media timeout with 3:31 left.
Ausar ended the Kansas run with a short jumper in the lane.
Utah extended its lead to 64-60 on a pair of free throws by Wahlin. Madsen then made a 3-pointer with 1:58 left to stretch the Utah lead to 67-60. With the make, Madsen set the program record for career 3-pointers.
Utah started the game quickly, taking a 16-8 lead out of the chute. It led by as many as 11 points in the first half at 32-21 with 7:07 left before Kansas started chipping away. The Jayhawks used an 11-0 run to erase that 11-point lead before Utah took its 39-37 edge into the locker room.
–Field Level Media
