SALT LAKE CITY — Utah secured a solid victory over Colorado, maintaining their momentum in league play with a 72-59 win on Wednesday night. Gabe Madsen was a significant contributor to the Utes’ success, scoring 17 points, while Lawson Lovering added 12 points to the total. Other noteworthy performances came from Ezra Ausar and Mason Madsen, both of whom chipped in with 10 points apiece for the Utes, who now stand at 13-9 overall and 5-6 in the Big 12.

On the other hand, Colorado continues to struggle, remaining winless in the Big 12 at 0-11. Their efforts were led by reserve player Javon Ruffin, who scored 13 points, while Bangot Dak contributed 11 points to the Buffaloes’ total. At halftime, Utah was in control with a 32-20 lead. However, Colorado made a push early in the second half, outscoring Utah 22-10 in the first 10 minutes to narrow the gap to 45-42, with Dak scoring nine points during this surge.

As the game progressed, Colorado managed to close in further, with Assane Diop hitting a pair of free throws, making it 48-46 with just over eight minutes remaining. But Madsen responded for Utah with a crucial 3-pointer, extending their lead to 55-50 with 4:15 left on the clock. The Utes then finished strong, closing the game with a decisive 20-9 run.

Utah has now secured five victories in their last eight games, while Colorado is trapped in a disheartening streak with 11 consecutive losses. Out of their remaining nine games, five will be against teams currently ranked in the Top 25, suggesting a challenging path ahead for the Buffaloes, who have only experienced a winless season in conference play once since the 1909-10 season—back in the 1985-86 season when they finished 0-14 in the Big 8 Conference.

Looking ahead, Colorado will face fifth-ranked Houston on Saturday, while Utah is set to travel to West Virginia to challenge the Mountaineers the same day.