Utah basketball: Utes run out of gas, fall at home to Arizona

SALT LAKE CITY — Just when it looked like things might be going their way, reality bit the Utah Utes. Being shorthanded took a toll in Thursday's 77-51 loss to Arizona in the Huntsman Center.

In their first game without Josh "Jiggy" Watkins, who led the Utes in scoring, assists and steals before being dismissed from the squad earlier this week for violating unspecified team rules, the Utes managed to go toe-to-toe with the Wildcats for more than a half.

Things then took a turn.

The combination of Watkins' absence, an illness that limited valuable reserve Javon Dawson to an ineffective 10 minutes of play and Arizona's outside shooting quickly evaporated a competitive situation.

However, the turning point didn't really fit with the storyline. It started after Arizona star Solomon Hill was ejected for a flagrant foul with 18:14 left to play and the Wildcats clinging to a narrow lead. Hill threw an elbow that hit Cedric Martin in the back of the head, sending the Utah forward to the locker room for several minutes.

Alex Mortensen stepped in for Martin, who eventually returned to the game but was later being evaluated for a concussion, and hit two free throws as the Utes pulled to within 35-32.

That's when things turned ugly.

Arizona went on a decisive 20-2 run over the next 6:07 to pull away handily. The Wildcats hit four 3-pointers during the outburst. They outrebounded the Utes 5-1 in the span and forced four turnovers.

"I don't think it was related to the altercation at all. I think it was related to us kind of running out of gas," said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak. "We've been riding those ponies for quite a while. It's kind of like a heavyweight fight. I think when it starts getting into the later rounds you can only take so many body punches."

Arizona's depth proved to be a factor with 10 players scoring and 14 seeing action in the lopsided affair.

"Our legs kind of got hit a little and we kind of got winded. Shots were going their way, we were turning it over and they were hitting home runs," said Utah guard Chris Hines. "We always felt we had a chance in the game. There was never a time where we felt we were out of it, but obviously the momentum went their way instead of our way."

Center Jason Washburn agreed.