Arizona’s losing streak rises to 6 after falling to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Parker Van Dyke made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 23 points and Jayce Johnson also set a career-best with 17 points to help Utah beat Arizona 83-76 on Thursday night.

Sedrick Barefield had 15 points and six assists and Timmy Allen scored 14 for the Utes (14-10 overall, 8-4 Pac-12), who have won three in a row and are in second place in the conference.

Dylan Smith scored a season-high with 16 points and Ryan Luther had 14 for the Wildcats (14-11, 5-7), who have lost six in a row for the first time since former coach Lute Olson’s first season at Arizona in 1983-84.

The Wildcats got within five points in the final minute but Both Gach made four straight free throws in the final 13 seconds to clinch the win.

Neither team led by more than Arizona’s 32-26 margin in the first half until Utah went on a 18-2 run in the second half, sparked by Van Dyke’s shooting and Johnson’s strong play at the rim.

Johnson’s follow basket with 7:03 to play gave Utah a 66-51 lead. Utah’s center barely touched the ball on offense in the first half but dominated the paint in the second half, scoring all of his points. Johnson added 10 rebounds, marking the fifth straight game he has notched double figures on the boards.

Utah didn’t score during the first four minutes of the game, until just after Van Dyke — whose 3-point buzzer-beater stunned UCLA last Saturday — checked into the game and hit a shot from the corner.

The Wildcats are 13-2 against Utah since Sean Miller became the head coach at Arizona. The Wildcats outlasted Utah 84-81 in overtime on Jan. 5. Ten of those contests have been decided by single digits.

UP NEXT

Arizona continues its mountain swing at Colorado on Sunday.

Utah hosts Arizona State on Saturday.