Utah runs away from Arizona State in 2nd half, earn first win under interim coach Eilert, 99-73
Eilert took over the program for the final three games of the regular season after the school fired Craig Smith on Monday. It's the second straight season Eilert finishes the year as interim coach. He was interim coach at West Virginia a year ago.
Arizona State held a 43-41 halftime lead after freshman Joson Sanon hit 4 of 5 3-point attempts to score 20 points. Alston Mason scored at the basket to give the Sun Devils their final lead, 52-51 with more than 15 minutes left, but Ausar hit two free throws, Keanu Dawes scored at the basket and Gabe Madsen knocked down a 3 to put the Utes up by six. Sanon converted a three-point play with just under 12 minutes left to get ASU within five, 63-58, but it did not score again until Basheer Jihad hit two free throws with 6:44 left to make it 76-63.
Utah (16-13, 8-10 Big 12) hit 10 of 25 from behind the arc while shooting 56.5% from the field. Ausar was 11 of 14 from the free-throw line and the Utes were a combined 19 of 27. Mike Sharavjamts hit 3 of 6 from deep and finished with 14 points and Michael Madsen added 13 points.
Sanon finished the game hitting 11 of 20 from the field to lead Arizona State (13-16, 4-14) with a career-high 28 points. Jihad added 16 points and Mason contributed 13.
Utah closes out the regular season at home against West Virginia on Tuesday and Saturday at No. 25 BYU. Arizona State plays at No. 22 Arizona Tuesday and hosts No. 10 Texas Tech Saturday.
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Ohio State has bossed Penn State for much of James Franklin's tenure, so the Nov. 1 showdown in Columbus will weigh heavy on everybody in Happy Valley. The rest of the Nittany Lions' schedule is palatable, but they'll run into more heavyweights in the playoff. Can James Franklin and PSU finally deliver when the stakes are highest? No. 1: Clemson Tigers This is the Tigers' best shot to replicate the program's late-2010s success. This team is loaded and it doesn't have to navigate a conference schedule like many in the SEC and Big Ten. Clemson's roster continuity should go a long way, with QB Cade Klubnik returning for his third season as the starter behind an experienced and talented offensive line. The team also brings back nine starters on defense, including TJ Parker, who had 11 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2024. He could be the top edge rusher taken in the 2026 NFL Draft with another double-digit sack season. 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