SALT LAKE CITY — Through the first 20 minutes, UCLA looked less like a team hoping to end a four-game losing streak and more like one just hoping to not get run out of the building.
Utah senior guard Delon Wright led all scorers with seven points as No. 10 Utah leads UCLA 32-15 at the break.
Despite missing their first three shots – all from beyond the arc – the Bruins trailed just 6-5 with 15:28 to go in the opening period.
But while UCLA struggled from outside, Utah did not as freshman forward Brekkott Chapman and junior forward Jordan Loveridge hit back-to-back threes while Wright hit a circus layup and added a foul shot to put the Utes back up by 10.
The Bruins went scoreless for more than three minutes before freshman center Thomas Welsh ended the drought with a short baseline jumper to make it 17-7 Utah with 12:03 to go.
UCLA chipped away at Utah’s lead, getting it down to as little as 21-15 before the Utes answered with another run, scoring the final 11 points of the half.
The Bruins went scoreless for the final 6:09 of the half, missing their final 11 field goals.
Freshman forward Kevon Looney led UCLA with five points as the Bruins connected on just seven of 29 shots.
Compiled by Jordan Lee, Bruin Sports senior staff.