SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Utah dominated Eastern Washington 101-77 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Utes (8-4) shot a blistering 68.4% from the field and led wire-to-wire before a crowd of 6,116. Don McHenry led Utah with 27 points, supported by Keanu Dawes with 21 and Terrence Brown with 20 points and 11 assists. The Utes scored 22 fast-break points. The Eagles (2-10) were led by Alton Hamilton’s 19 points and Kiree Huie’s 17 points but shot just 40% overall. Utah built a 50-34 halftime lead and maintained control throughout the second half.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — In a display of offensive efficiency that bordered on the clinical, the Utah Utes dismantled the Eastern Washington Eagles 101-77 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. From the opening tip, Utah established a pace and a precision that Eastern Washington could not match. The Utes shot a scorching 68.4% from the field, including 52.4% from three-point range, to run their record to 8-4. The Eagles, struggling through a difficult season, fell to 2-10 despite a valiant effort in the paint. The most important part of the game was Utah’s immediate and sustained offensive eruption in the first half, which effectively decided the contest before the intermission. The Utes scored on their first two possessions, a three-pointer from Seydou Traore and a Keanu Dawes layup, and never looked back. They built a 50-34 halftime lead by shooting 70% from the floor in the period, consistently beating the Eagles down the floor for easy baskets. Utah finished with a dominant 22-2 advantage in fastbreak points, highlighting the tempo they controlled from the outset. Don McHenry, Utah’s top star, led all scorers with 27 points, showcasing his versatility with a mix of drives and perimeter shooting. He was complemented brilliantly by point guard Terrence Brown, who orchestrated the offense with 11 assists and added 20 points. Forward Keanu Dawes provided an efficient interior presence, scoring 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Eastern Washington, which entered the game as a heavy underdog according to predictive metrics, fought hard on the glass, securing 14 offensive rebounds to Utah’s five. Alton Hamilton led the Eagles with 19 points and Kiree Huie added 17, as Eastern Washington managed 38 points in the paint. However, the Eagles’ 28-of-70 shooting and 8-of-26 performance from beyond the arc were no match for Utah’s firepower. The Utes also assisted on 26 of their 39 made field goals, demonstrating a cohesive and unselfish attack. The second half saw Utah maintain its offensive rhythm, scoring 51 points while continuing to stifle Eastern Washington’s attempts to mount a comeback. Every time the Eagles threatened to string together stops, the Utes answered with a transition basket or a well-executed set play. A late three-pointer from Don McHenry pushed Utah past the century mark, capping a performance where they scored 1.44 points per possession. The announced crowd of 6,116 saw the Utes bounce back decisively from a home loss to Mississippi State earlier in the week. For Eastern Washington, the loss extends a challenging opening stretch to the season, though the Eagles showed flashes of resilience against a high-major opponent. Utah now looks ahead to Pac-12 Conference play, beginning with a road trip to Washington on Dec. 29. Eastern Washington faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face BYU on Monday before opening Big Sky Conference action in January.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — The Utah Utes look to rebound from a tough home loss when they host the struggling Eastern Washington Eagles in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah (7-4) fell 82-74 to Mississippi State on Dec. 13, despite a career-high 29 points from guard Don McHenry. The Utes have alternated wins and losses over their past five games. McHenry has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 20.6 points over that stretch, including a 27-point performance in a road win at Mississippi. Eastern Washington (2-9) seeks to snap a two-game skid after a 78-63 loss to Washington State on Wednesday. The Eagles have lost nine of their last 10, with their only victory in that span a 90-66 rout of Missouri-Kansas City on Dec. 6. Guard Alton Hamilton leads the team, coming off a 16-point effort against the Cougars. He has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. The matchup pits Utah’s high-powered offense, which has scored 85 or more points in six games this season, against an Eastern Washington defense that has allowed 88 or more points in four of its last five contests. The Eagles have faced a difficult early schedule with seven of their 11 games on the road. For Utah, this game serves as a final tune-up before beginning Pac-12 Conference play next week. The Utes travel to face Washington on Dec. 29. Eastern Washington continues a challenging road swing, visiting BYU on Monday before opening Big Sky Conference play at Idaho on Jan. 3. Saturday’s contest will be the first meeting between the programs since 2017. Utah holds a 5-1 all-time series advantage.