STAR CITY, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and critical late-game execution, the Utah Utes snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off the West Virginia Mountaineers 61-56 on Wednesday night at a tense WVU Coliseum.

The Utes, who improved to 10-16, built a commanding 10-point halftime lead by stifling the Mountaineers’ offense, then weathered a furious second-half rally to secure a rare road victory in Big 12 play. West Virginia, which fell to 16-10, saw its own two-game win streak end in a performance marred by poor shooting and untimely mistakes.

The most pivotal sequence of the contest unfolded in the final minute, with Utah clinging to a precarious 54-51 lead. After West Virginia’s Honor Huff connected on a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 54 with 33 seconds remaining, the Utes’ composure was tested. Utah’s Terrence Brown was fouled by Jasper Floyd on the ensuing inbound play and calmly sank both free throws to restore a two-point lead with 32 seconds left.

West Virginia had a chance to answer, but Huff’s potential go-ahead 3-pointer was blocked by Utah’s Seydou Traore with 13 seconds on the clock. Brown secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled again, draining two more pressure-packed free throws to extend the lead to 58-54 with 10 seconds remaining.

The Mountaineers’ final hopes evaporated when Floyd committed a turnover on the next possession. Brown, fouled once more, iced the game with two additional free throws, part of a 6-for-6 performance from the line for Utah in the final 32 seconds. West Virginia managed only a last-second layup from Amir Jenkins to provide the final margin.

The game’s outcome was forged in a stark first half. Utah’s defense was relentless, holding West Virginia to just 21 points on 8-of-28 shooting, including a dismal 2-of-13 from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers also struggled at the free-throw line, missing five of their eight attempts before halftime. Utah, led by Traore’s efficient scoring and Don McHenry’s timely baskets, methodically built a 31-21 advantage, capitalizing on a 13-2 run midway through the period.

West Virginia emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, attacking the paint and gradually chipping away at the deficit. A 9-0 run fueled by Brenen Lorient and Chance Moore brought the Mountaineers within three points early in the second half. They repeatedly cut the lead to a single possession but could never find the basket to pull ahead, missing 10 of their 23 attempts from 3-point range in the game and converting only 7 of 15 free throws overall.

Traore, a 6-foot-7 forward from the Bronx, New York, was the offensive catalyst for Utah, finishing with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, along with two assists and two blocks in 34 minutes. His defensive presence, including the critical late block on Huff, was equally vital. Backcourt mates Brown and McHenry provided crucial support, each adding 16 points. Brown, from Minneapolis, also contributed three assists, while McHenry, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hit three of Utah’s five 3-pointers.

West Virginia was led by Chance Moore of Brookhaven, Georgia, who scored 12 points off the bench. Huff, from Brooklyn, New York, also had 12 points but needed 14 shots to get there, going 4-of-14 from the field. Lorient, a 6-foot-9 forward from Ocala, Florida, added 10 points and three assists. The Mountaineers won the battle in the paint, 34-22, and scored 13 points off Utah’s 11 turnovers, but their 31.3% shooting from deep and 46.7% mark from the charity stripe proved insurmountable.

Both teams struggled offensively by advanced metrics. Utah scored 61 points on 63 possessions for an offensive rating of 96.9, while West Virginia managed 56 points on 60 possessions for a rating of 93.1. The Utes shot 40.4% from the field to West Virginia’s 42.3%, but the Mountaineers’ 21 more field goal attempts were negated by Utah’s advantage at the free-throw line, where they made 14 of 21 compared to West Virginia’s 7 of 15.

The victory provides a significant boost for a Utah team that had lost eight of its last nine games entering the night. West Virginia, which had been installed as a 10-point favorite and held an 88.9% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, will look to regroup as it continues its push for postseason positioning.

Utah returns home to host UCF on Saturday. West Virginia hits the road for a matchup at Texas Christian, also on Saturday.