The Hive Sports

March 4, 2025 – Salt Lake City, UT: Mountaineers Spoil Utah’s Senior Night in Thrilling 71-69 victory over the Utah Utes men’s basketball team.

In a dramatic conclusion to the regular season at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers 71-69 on Senior Night, The game was a back-and-forth battle, featuring ten lead changes and six ties, ultimately decided in the final seconds. 

Utah (16-14, 8-11 Big 12) honored six seniors—Gabe Madsen, Mason Madsen, Hunter Erickson, Caleb Lohner, Brandon Haddock, and Lawson Lovering—before tip-off. The Utes started strong, with Gabe Madsen scoring 11 early points, including three consecutive three-pointers, to help Utah build a 19-7 lead.  However, a prolonged scoring drought allowed West Virginia to close the gap and take a 30-29 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Utah regained momentum, opening with a 15-6 run to lead 44-36. Mike Sharavjamts contributed significantly during this stretch, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half.  Nevertheless, West Virginia (18-12, 9-10 Big 12) responded with resilience. Javon Small led the Mountaineers with 18 points and seven assists, including a pivotal three-pointer and an alley-oop assist to Eduardo Andre, giving West Virginia a 63-58 lead with under three minutes remaining. 

Utah mounted a late comeback, with Madsen hitting a deep three-pointer and Jake Wahlin stealing the inbounds pass for a quick layup, narrowing the deficit to 70-69 with just over a second left. However, West Virginia’s Sencire Harris made one of two free throws, and Madsen’s final three-point attempt was blocked by Joseph Yesufu, sealing the Mountaineers’ victory.

Despite the loss, Madsen delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a game-high 23 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Ezra Ausar added 11 points and five rebounds for Utah. 

The defeat ended Utah’s six-game home winning streak and added pressure as they prepare for their regular-season finale against BYU before the Big 12 Tournament.

For West Virginia, the win marked their sixth Quad 1 victory of the season, bolstering their NCAA Tournament resume. The Mountaineers’ ability to execute under pressure and secure road wins highlights their potential as a formidable opponent in postseason play. 

As the regular season concludes, both teams look ahead to their final games and the upcoming Big 12 Tournament, where every performance will be crucial in determining their postseason fates.

Photos by: Joe Oliver