It's still football season, and it's possible the Utah men's basketball team's first two exhibition contests may have gotten lost in the fans' conversations about sports up on the hill.
But coach Alex Jensen and the players have something they want everyone to know: Playing in the Jon M. Huntsman Center is supposed to mean something.
In their third — and final — exhibition game Wednesday night, Trey Campbell and Jackson Holcombe scored 20 points apiece and as the Utes rallied in the final minute to force overtime to overcome the Oregon Ducks 81-77.
Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) gets rid of the ball before Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) can get at it as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) and Utah Utes forward Zati Loubaki (80) celebrate after a shot and foul as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
With just a few seconds left in overtime Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) knocks the ball away from Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Trey Campbell (9) pushes up a three point shot over the outstretched hand of Oregon Ducks forward Pharaoh Compton (9) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes fans cheer after the game was tied up after a three point shot by Utah Utes guard Taison Chatman (11) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Utah won in overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) drives into the lane with Oregon Ducks forward Andrew Meadow (8) defending as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) encourages the fans to cheer louder as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) blocks Oregon Ducks guard Tyrone Riley IV (5) at the rim as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) and Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Aristode (3) battle for the ball as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) goes up for a dunk ahead of Oregon Ducks forward Andrew Meadow (8) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes forward Zati Loubaki (80) and Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Aristode (3) wrestle for the ball as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) looks to pass the ball with Oregon Ducks guard Jerry Easter II (1) defending as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes head coach Alex Jensen claps his hands as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The ball gets away from Utah Utes guard Trey Campbell (9) as he is defended by Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) gets around Oregon Ducks forward Taylor Bol Bowen (7) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) goes up for a layup ahead of Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) and Oregon Ducks forward Tajh Ariza (0) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) blocks a three point attempt by Utah Utes forward Alec Anigbata (21) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) shoots over Oregon Ducks guard Jerry Easter II (1) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) pushes up a shot over Oregon Ducks forward Andrew Meadow (8) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) drives on Oregon Ducks forward Tajh Ariza (0) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) battles Oregon Ducks forward Tajh Ariza (0) and Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Aristode (3) for a rebound as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) floats the ball up over Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Aristode (3) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) blocks Oregon Ducks guard Tyrone Riley IV (5) at the rim as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes guard Jackson Holcombe (2) drives between Oregon Ducks forward Seven Spurlock (11) and Oregon Ducks guard Fred Payne (4) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes forward Alec Anigbata (21) drives at and passes around the defense of Oregon Ducks guard Jasper Johnson (2) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) knocks the ball away from Oregon Ducks forward Taylor Bol Bowen (7) as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) and Oregon Ducks forward Tajh Ariza (0) battle for a rebound as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes forward Zati Loubaki (80) crashes to the floor while chasing after the ball as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes head coach Alex Jensen walks onto the court as Utah takes a lead in overtime as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Utes head coach Alex Jensen talks with a referee as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Oregon Ducks forward Taylor Bol Bowen (7) tries to regain the ball after Utah Utes center Malek Gomma (1) ripped it away from him as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
It was a small crowd, so it might take a while for news to spread, but the Utes showed a lot of spirit, diving for loose balls and making timely three-pointers. They trailed nearly the entire game but sent the crowd home happy — and themselves, too.
"A really good game for us," said Jensen, the second-year Ute leader who played for former coach Rick Majerus on some of the school's best teams in the mid-to-late 1990s.
"We got the win but we have a long way to go — collectively and individually. I will give them credit. They didn't hang their heads. They kept fighting and they made plays. A number of guys made crucial plays to get us over the edge."
Finally, Utah got within one possession of Oregon five separate times, but couldn't get past the hump until Taison Chatman's buzzer-beating three-pointer forced overtime.
Campbell then opened the five-minute extra session with a deep three-pointer to give the Utes their first lead since the opening basket. After that, momentum stayed on their side, fueled by Oregon's 1-of-9 shooting and the Utes' willingness to leap over the taller Ducks for rebounds before turning around and diving to the floor.
"We got every loose ball on the floor," Jensen said. "That was huge and it sealed the game."
"Our will to win was there," said Chatman.
Chatman and Malek Gomma admitted one of their goals was to impress the crowd in their first game this season on the Huntsman floor, where so many contests have gone the Utes' way previously.
Utah was 8-9 at home last year en route to a 10-22 season.
"One of the things that's been bothering me the most is the place not being full," said Jensen. "I don't blame anybody, but the teams we've had in the past have been overachieving teams. There aren't any top-100 kids out there but they like it when they hear you cheer out there. This place deserves a team like that.
"That's what we're used to. This place used to be hard place to win."
According to the Utes' website, the team averaged just under 14,000 fans during Jensen's four years, 1994-95 and then 1997-2000. They have been about one-half of that since the pandemic season (2020-21).
"These exhibitions are so we can get a good feel for each other. We're getting better each game," Jensen said. "The more we play, the more they know what each other is going to do."
Oregon is nowhere near the team it used to be, either. The Ducks' longtime coach, Dana Altman, retired earlier this month after 16 years, and new coach Tony Stubblefield is still trying to build this year's club, which is predicted to finish 13th out of the 18 teams in the Big 10 Conference.
Tyrone Riley led Oregon with 16 points.
Utah Utes guard TJ Burch (6) drives into the lane with Oregon Ducks forward Andrew Meadow (8) defending as Utah and Oregon play an exhibition basketball game in the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
