Seydou Traore certainly stole the spotlight as Utah clinched a thrilling 61-56 victory over West Virginia at Hope Coliseum. His defensive prowess was on full display, especially against the Mountaineers' star scorer, Honor Huff. Traore's two critical blocks on Huff's 3-point attempts in the second half were game-changers, helping the Runnin’ Utes secure their first road win since January 2025.
The most pivotal moment came with just 13 seconds left. Huff had just nailed a 3-pointer, tightening the game to 57-54, and after Terrence Brown missed a crucial free throw, West Virginia had a shot to tie. But Traore rose to the occasion, blocking Huff’s attempt and extinguishing the Mountaineers' hopes.
“Seydou did a great job, especially at the end,” praised Utah coach Alex Jensen.
Traore's defensive effort translated into a stellar all-around performance. He led the team with 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Traore also showcased his shooting skills, hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, the only Ute to shoot over .500 from 3-point range.
Starting the game by holding Huff to just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting, Traore set the tone. “He’s a guy who can score quickly.
We put Seydou on him, and he did a great job,” Jensen explained. “Focusing on defense can make your offensive game easier, and Seydou embraced that challenge.”
The team’s collective defensive effort was key. James Okonkwo also stepped up, contributing crucial plays late in the game. Jensen credited his squad for their awareness and teamwork in containing Huff and the Mountaineers.
Rebounding played a significant role in Utah’s success, with the Utes outrebounding West Virginia 38-28. This dominance on the boards led to a 9-4 advantage in second-chance points. Josh Hayes made an impact off the bench with seven rebounds, five of which were offensive, while Brown led with eight rebounds.
“Josh was great off the bench, and Terrence had eight rebounds. Those loose balls at the end were huge,” Jensen noted. “Rebounding has been a focal point because we often give up size.”
Offense was hard to come by for both teams, with Utah shooting 40.4% and West Virginia 42.3% from the field. Free throws were also a struggle, but Utah managed to capitalize more effectively.
Despite the offensive challenges, guards Brown and Don McHenry shone, each scoring 16 points. McHenry sparked an early run, scoring seven points as Utah jumped to an 18-3 lead. “We need Don to be aggressive,” Jensen emphasized.
In the second half, Brown and McHenry combined for nine of Utah’s first 12 points, extending their lead to 15. When West Virginia closed the gap to two, the duo came through again, with Brown’s reverse layup breaking a 7-0 run.
Utah’s ability to maintain composure late in the game was crucial, especially after a recent close loss to the Bearcats. Jensen has consistently urged his team to be aggressive, and it paid off.
“If we don’t start well, it’s hard to come back, especially on the road,” Jensen said. West Virginia coach Ross Hodge acknowledged Utah’s intensity from the start, crediting Jensen and his team for their strong performance.
Next up, the Utes return home to face UCF, a team on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Despite being six games under .500, Wednesday’s win offers Utah positives to build on.
“I tell them, we’re good enough. The goal is to get better individually and collectively,” Jensen reflected. “We are better than our record, and it showed tonight.”