3 keys to Utah’s 79-66 loss to the Oregon Ducks on New Year’s Day

Oregon guard Jacob Young (42) shoots against Utah in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)

AP

Utah’s struggles on the road in the Pac-12 continued on New Year’s Day as the Runnin’ Utes fell 79-66 to the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, Saturday night.

A big basket by Branden Carlson gave Utah a five-point lead at the half, but Oregon owned the second half to win its first Pac-12 game of the season.

Here are 3 keys to Oregon’s win:

• Starting guards Jacob Young and Will Richardson combined for 48 points, and the Ducks used a big second half to hand the Utes their second straight loss. Utah shot just 40% and got zero points from second-leading scorer David Jenkins Jr., who eventually fouled out.

• Trailing 42-37 three minutes into the second half, the Ducks put together a 13-0 run to seize control, and they kept at least a three-point advantage the rest of the way. Young and Richardson made 3-pointers in the spurt and Richardson finished with 26 points and five rebounds.

• Utah took a 35-29 halftime lead, capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Carlson from just inside the half-court line. The shot banked in to give Carlson nine first-half points. Utah had nine second-chance points in the first half, while Oregon had zero. Carlson finished with 15 points to lead the Utes.