Utah rallies to secure narrow victory over Long Beach State

The Utah Runnin' Utes opened their 2026-27 basketball season with a 66-63 win against Long Beach State on November 2 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Utah trailed by 17 points early in the second half but rallied with runs of 10-0 and 15-2 to take control late. The game was marked by significant turnovers, with Utah committing ten in the first half. Long Beach State nearly forced overtime after a missed free throw, but Utah's defense held strong on the final possession. Coach Alex Jensen acknowledged areas needing improvement despite the victory, while also crediting Long Beach State for their effort and game plan.

• 6:26 AMYahoo Sports — It took a grind-it-out effort for Utah basketball to beat Long Beach State in its season opener