​The Utah Runnin’ Utes play the Long Beach State Beach on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Utah won, 66-63.
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Anna Fuder, Utah Athletics
There was more frustration than elation after the University of Utah opened its 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a 66-63 win over Long Beach State on Monday night.The Runnin’ Utes found themselves down 17 points early in the second half at the Huntsman Center before their energy and effort picked up, and Utah handed its Big West Conference opponent a close loss by using runs of 10-0 and 15-2 to finally gain control late.The Beach had a chance to force overtime after Malek Gomma missed two free throws with 21 seconds to play that would have given Utah a two-possession lead, but the Ute defense forced a long 3-point attempt from Utah native McCaden Adams on the final possession that missed the mark and Trey Campbell corralled the rebound to finally end the threat.It was that kind of night for the exasperated Utes.“I think it was disappointing in a lot of respects for me because I think we took a step back. I think we took two steps back and maybe one step forward tonight,” Utah coach Alex Jensen said. “We had three good exhibition games, but (we) can’t make the same mistakes over and over again individually or collectively and put ourselves in a hole.”
The Utah Runnin’ Utes play the Long Beach State Beach on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Utah won, 66-63.
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Anna Fuder, Utah Athletics
The Utah Runnin’ Utes play the Long Beach State Beach on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Utah won, 66-63.
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Anna Fuder, Utah Athletics