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Boulder, Colo. • Trigger warning: With a minute to go, Utah found itself in a close game. That hasn't gone well lately.
But in hostile confines, the Utes (18-10, 9-7) were able to turn around their recent road and close game miseries, pulling through for an 86-81 victory against Colorado.
It took a 25-point night from junior Kyle Kuzma, who overcame first-half foul trouble to have one of his better games of the season. It took some very creative press-breaking, including David Collette having to dribble up the floor. Utah had to face some demons at the the free throw line — and they did enough, finishing the night 25 for 32 from the line in a game with 48 combined fouls.
They did it without one of their best players, freshman Devon Daniels, a double-digit scorer whose suspension was announced hours before tip-off at Coors Events Center.
Was coach Larry Krystkowiak nervous at the end? "Of course, I was nervous the whole game."
But Utah showed a composure it had worked extensively on this week in practice — a composure that has been lacking in similar games this season.
"We had a tough couple games — those were tough losses," said senior Gabe Bealer, making a start in Daniels' place. "After winning this game, it gives us some hope."
As has been the case between these teams, it was a game of frenetic energy — of defensive scrambling and flying hands in passing lanes, of bodies crashing together for rebounds. The soundtrack was a cacophony of whistles (and some choice words for the refs from the home fans) in the closing minutes, as the pace ground to a halt.
But Utah showed its ability to improvise: When Kuzma was out for a long first-half stretch, the guards stepped up in his absence, hitting six first-half 3-pointers. With Daniels suspended, the Utes made do with Bealer, who had 8 points in only his second start of the season. They made key free throws, despite struggling at the line much of the season, when the game became a whistle fest.
Breaking a four-game losing streak on the road (and avoiding three straight losses for the first time this season), it was a win Utah sorely needed.
The biggest question was Utah's late-game execution — a question that was partially answered. Lorenzo Bonam hit four straight free throws in the final two minutes, and Collette was able to hit a clean look under the rim.
There were hair-raising moments: On back-to-back plays, Utah had to call timeout on inbound plays against Colorado's pressure, trying to figure out solutions. In the end, the Utes didn't turn it over in the final minute and a half, but it required some free throws and defensive rebounding.
Utah made 10 of their final 12 free throws — a mark they've rarely hit this season.
"We've been putting a lot of time in them," Krystkowiak said of the free throw performance. "Sometimes you need an environment like this to see it go in. Maybe it will help us for the rest of the league. If we're going to start shooting well, I'd like to start right about now."
Utah couldn't do much to slow down Colorado's best player, guard Derrick White. The senior transfer's length was tough to drive on offensively, and he showed his range as a shooter as well as his quick step as a slasher on his way to 31 points. But others had less success: Even Colorado's close shots clanged or ricocheted off the rim, and Utah gave the Buffs a good scrap for every miss — the teams tied with 33 rebounds.
Later in the game, Utah showcased its speed, pushing more in transition — a second-half Kuzma dunk on a fastbreak gave Utah a 56-46 lead.
Utah started out with the confidence of a team fully intact. Slow starting Colorado missed its first few shots, as Kuzma, Collette and Bonam helped Utah get off to its most brisk start in weeks. It settled in as Colorado rode the emotion of a modest but passionate crowd on its home court: The score was tied three times in the first half.
But Utah's shooting was too hot for Colorado to keep up. Four different Utes hit first-half threes, and Utah led by as much as 12 in the first 20 minutes before the Buffs cut it to 37-29 at the half.
Twitter: @kylegoon