By: Joe Oliver

October 21, 2026 – SLC, UT (Jon M. Huntsman Center)

In their final of three exhibition games, and only game hosted at Utah before the 2026-27 season begins, the University of Utah men’s basketball team hosted former Pac-12 rival, Oregon.

The Fighting Ducks took an early lead that lasted much of the game. With an almost entirely new roster from last season, the Utes showed an initial lack of cohesive play. However, it remained a close game throughout much of the second half. At least five times in the final eight minutes, Utah pulled within 1–2 points. Each time, Oregon answered with a three-pointer or Utah turned the ball over, preventing the Utes from taking the lead.

It looked as though Utah would slide to a loss until late in the second half, when a few turnovers by Oregon, a key defensive stop, and a huge three-point buzzer-beater by Taison Chatman sent the game into overtime.

After the game, second-year Utah head coach Alex Jensen noted it was “a really good game for us.” Jensen, who played for the Utes under Rick Majerus in the mid-to-late 1990s, added:

“We got the win, but we have a long way to go, collectively and individually. I will give them credit; they didn’t hang their heads. They kept fighting and they made plays. A number of guys made crucial plays to get us over the edge.”

“One of the things that’s been bothering me the most is the place not being full. I don’t blame anybody, but the teams we’ve had in the past have been overachieving teams. There aren’t any top-100 kids out there, but they like it when they hear you cheer. This place deserves a team like that. That’s what we’re used to. This place used to be a hard place to win.”

Despite free tickets being offered to the public for this first glimpse and sole home exhibition game, attendance was sparse on Wednesday night. This is a topic to explore further as the season progresses.

Overall, my initial impression of this year’s Runnin’ Utes is a team with a lot of talent searching for leadership. Whether Alex Jensen and his coaching staff can mold this group into a potential powerhouse remains to be seen.

Photos by: Joe Oliver