Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) celebrates after scoring a basket during a basketball game between the Utah Utes and the Brigham Young Cougars at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. Utah wasn’t about to let BYU push the Runnin’ Utes around on their home court.

The first conference game between BYU and Utah since 2011 had everything you could ask for: eight lead changes, nine ties, heated words, extra shoves, an exhilarating overtime finish.

When BYU and Utah basketball play each other, anything can happen. Last year, the Utes handed the No. 14 Cougars their first loss of the season in the Huntsman

He outscored his season average of 4.4 points solely in overtime, posting six points from a clutch game-tying 3-pointer and three made free throws — all the more valuable in a game where Utah missed 15 shots from the charity stripe — which ended up being the winning difference.

The Cougars' free throw shooting against Utah was emblematic of how the season has gone in Young’s first season in Provo. BYU has had opportunities to win games, but the fragility of basketball has them sitting at 11-6 overall this season and 2-4 in conference play.