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LAS VEGAS — Even Utah super fan Corey Chidester, who was sitting courtside and got a shout out from opposing coach Thad Matta for being a distraction during the game, couldn’t help will the Runnin’ Utes to a postseason victory.
But he did everything he could to be a nuisance to an opposing Butler team that shot 65% from the free-throw line.
Utah controlled an 11-point lead midway through the second half before letting it slip away.
Butler, benefiting from the hot-handed shooting for forward Pierre Brooks who seemingly couldn’t miss from 3-point range, slowly chipped away at an 11-point Utah lead midway through the second half to eventually claim a lead.
The two teams traded buckets (and leads) down the stretch, playing to a tie game.
But no shot was bigger from Brooks than a driving floater to break the tie and control a 2-point lead with 3.2 seconds left in the game.
A late-ditch effort by Utah on an inbound pass to Ezra Ausar at half court went sideways as he drove to get closer and tried to get a contested shot off that was too strong, and Butler held on to claim an 86-84 win in the first round of the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament.
Brooks finished with a game-high 22 points, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and nine rebounds in the win.
After watching its double-digit lead evaporate, Gabe Madsen got Utah back into the game with a 3-pointer with four minutes left to play to reclaim a temporary lead. But Butler continued to fight through various lead changes to stave off the Utes.
Madsen, who played his last collegiate game Monday, finished with 17 points, including 5-of-14 shooting from deep, in the loss. Keanu Dawes, who got the start, led the Utes with 19 points and 11 rebounds in an efficient game.
Dawes, though, was one of seven Utah players on the roster already in the NCAA transfer portal, including two other starters in Jake Wahlin and Lawson Lovering.
Though Utah shot the ball 46% from the field and had 10 made 3-pointers, it was the team’s defense that allowed Butler to get the win. The two teams were evenly matched all afternoon — Butler had three more made 3-pointers — but got easy looks from a Utah defense that didn’t closeout.
Utah interim head coach Josh Eilert emphasized that point multiple times during the broadcast, calling into question the team’s defensive effort.
While Butler lives to fight another day, Utah immediately focuses on the future with new head coach Alex Jensen and what will be a busy offseason of change as the former Utah great builds a coaching staff and roster in the coming weeks.
