SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah Runnin' Utes upset No. 9 Arizona at home Saturday in a battle for Pac-12 supremacy.
The Utes were No. 22 entering the game, but they led the No. 9 Wildcats by 11 at 40-29 at halftime.
But the Wildcats manged to narrow the gap in the second half, at one point even leading 64-63 with less than three minutes to play. Utah managed to surge back for the win, however, taking home a 70-64 victory.
Brandon Taylor led the Utes in scoring with 19 points, and he also tacked on five steals. Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and Lorenzo Bonam added on 11. For Arizona, Allonzo Trier led the team with 23 points.
Taylor has struggled at times this season, but he said after a talk with Coach Larry Krystkowiak he felt more able to contribute.
"At a point in the season, um, I was really, I was at a low point, I was at a very low point, like my confidence was shot," Taylor said after the game. "I wasn't believing in myself, you know, but I had a talk with Coach K, and it was really just, 'Regain your confidence and go out there, cause this team needs you,' and I really understood that, and I think that's what I really took to heart."
Utah improves to 23-7 overall and 12-5 in conference.
Utah takes the court next on March 5, when they will host Colorado at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
