Arizona Wildcats Defeat Utah Utes 97-78
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Jon M. Huntsman Center
Arizona Wildcats 97, Utah Utes 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Arizona Wildcats vs Utah Utes?
Arizona Wildcats beat Utah Utes 97-78 at Jon M. Huntsman Center on January 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Arizona Wildcats vs Utah Utes?
Arizona Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -2400 (about 96% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Arizona Wildcats showcased their dominance with a 97-78 victory over the Utah Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. This game highlighted the stark contrast in the teams' recent performances, as Arizona entered the contest with an impressive record of 14-0, while Utah struggled with an 8-6 record. Arizona's win extends their current winning streak to 11 games, reflecting their strong form throughout the season.
The Wildcats have been particularly effective offensively, averaging 90.4 points per game over their last ten contests, while allowing only 65.8 points. Their recent games include a 99-71 win against South Dakota State and a 107-71 victory over Bethune-Cookman, demonstrating their ability to score heavily. In contrast, the Utes have averaged 79.1 points in their last ten games but have allowed 78.7 points, indicating a less stable defense. Their recent form includes a loss to Washington Huskies, where they scored 65 points against 74 allowed.
At home, Utah has a record of 4-2, while their away performance has been less favorable at 1-3. Arizona, on the other hand, boasts a perfect away record of 3-0 and has won all of its home games, further emphasizing their strength this season. The last meeting between these two teams occurred on February 27, 2025, where Arizona also emerged victorious with a score of 83-66.
In terms of injuries, there were no specific details provided in the block, but both teams were expected to field their best players. The betting market reflected Arizona's strong position, with DraftKings listing them as 17.5-point favorites, indicating a high level of confidence in their ability to win. The total points over/under was set at 162.5, suggesting expectations for a high-scoring affair.
The game conditions were typical for a basketball matchup, with both teams playing in front of a home crowd for Utah, but the Wildcats' performance overshadowed any home-court advantage. Viewers were treated to several notable scoring plays, including a 24-foot three-point jumper by Ivan Kharchenkov and a 23-foot three-point shot by Seydou Traore, both of which contributed to Arizona's commanding lead.
As the game progressed, Arizona maintained control, leading by as much as 24 points at one stage. The Utes attempted to close the gap, but their efforts fell short as they could not keep pace with the Wildcats' scoring. The final score of 97-78 reflects Arizona's offensive prowess and Utah's ongoing challenges in defense, particularly against high-scoring teams.
This matchup not only showcased the Wildcats' unbeaten streak but also highlighted the Utes' need for improvement as they continue through the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ARIZ -17.5 | 162.5 o -108 / u -112 | Arizona Wildcats -2400 · Utah Utes +1200 |
Leaders
- PointsTerrence Brown26Utah Utes
- AssistsTerrence Brown6Utah Utes
- ReboundsKeanu Dawes9Utah Utes
- PointsTobe Awaka18Arizona Wildcats
- AssistsJaden Bradley5Arizona Wildcats
- ReboundsTobe Awaka12Arizona Wildcats
Recent form
Utah Utes
Last 10: 5-5Streak L179.1 scored · 78.7 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L65-74at Washington HuskiesDec 30
- W101-77vs Eastern Washington EaglesDec 21
- L74-82vs Mississippi State BulldogsDec 14
- W91-85vs California Baptist LancersDec 7
- L72-79at California Golden BearsDec 3
- W75-74at Ole Miss RebelsNov 27
- L58-68at Grand Canyon LopesNov 26
- L85-92vs Cal Poly MustangsNov 21
- W85-77vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsNov 19
- W85-79vs Sam Houston BearkatsNov 16
Arizona Wildcats
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1090.4 scored · 65.8 allowed per game3-0 away
- W99-71vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsDec 30
- W107-71vs Bethune-Cookman WildcatsDec 23
- W68-45vs San Diego State AztecsDec 21
- W96-62vs Abilene Christian WildcatsDec 17
- W96-75at Alabama Crimson TideDec 14
- W97-68vs Auburn TigersDec 7
- W98-61vs Norfolk State SpartansNov 29
- W103-73vs Denver PioneersNov 25
- W71-67at UConn HuskiesNov 20
- W69-65at UCLA BruinsNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Arizona Wildcats | Utah Utes |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 37-69 | 31-70 |
| Field goal % | 54 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 7-18 | 5-17 |
| Three-point % | 39 | 29 |
| Free throws | 16-21 | 11-12 |
| Free throw % | 76 | 92 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 20 |
| Assists | 18 | 13 |
| Steals | 11 | 5 |
| Blocks | 7 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 52 | 42 |
| Fouls | 13 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 24 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 98 | 1 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half60-42Keanu Dawes makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half62-42Jaden Bradley makes layup
- 2nd Half62-44Don McHenry makes layup (Terrence Brown assists)
- 2nd Half62-46Terrence Brown makes 1-foot dunk (Seydou Traore assists)
- 2nd Half63-46Motiejus Krivas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-46Koa Peat makes 1-foot dunk (Ivan Kharchenkov assists)
- 2nd Half68-46Koa Peat makes 25-foot three point jumper (Brayden Burries assists)
- 2nd Half70-46Brayden Burries makes layup (Jaden Bradley assists)
- 2nd Half70-48Obomate Abbey makes layup
- 2nd Half70-49Obomate Abbey makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half70-52Don McHenry makes 25-foot three point jumper (Obomate Abbey assists)
- 2nd Half70-54Keanu Dawes makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half72-54Tobe Awaka makes layup (Jaden Bradley assists)
- 2nd Half73-54Tobe Awaka makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half73-56Keanu Dawes makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half73-58Obomate Abbey makes layup
- 2nd Half76-58Dwayne Aristode makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half77-58Tobe Awaka makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-59Keanu Dawes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-60Keanu Dawes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-60Brayden Burries makes 1-foot dunk (Koa Peat assists)
- 2nd Half79-62James Okonkwo makes 1-foot dunk (Terrence Brown assists)
- 2nd Half81-62Jaden Bradley makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half81-65Don McHenry makes 27-foot three point jumper (Terrence Brown assists)
- 2nd Half82-65Tobe Awaka makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-65Jaden Bradley makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half86-65Koa Peat makes 13-foot jumper (Jaden Bradley assists)
- 2nd Half86-67Seydou Traore makes layup (Keanu Dawes assists)
- 2nd Half88-67Ivan Kharchenkov makes layup (Jaden Bradley assists)
- 2nd Half88-68Josh Hayes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-70Terrence Brown makes layup
- 2nd Half88-71Terrence Brown makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half91-71Ivan Kharchenkov makes 24-foot three point jumper (Koa Peat assists)
- 2nd Half91-74Seydou Traore makes 23-foot three point jumper (Terrence Brown assists)
- 2nd Half93-74Brayden Burries makes layup
- 2nd Half93-76Terrence Brown makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half95-76Tobe Awaka makes layup (Ivan Kharchenkov assists)
- 2nd Half97-76Brayden Burries makes layup
- 2nd Half97-77Terrence Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half97-78Terrence Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Utah Utes, below favours Arizona Wildcats.
Venue
- Jon M. Huntsman CenterSalt Lake City, UT
- Attendance8339
- OfficialsRandy McCall, Deron White, Jason Garretson
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond