The University of Utah men's basketball team secured a 66-63 comeback victory over Long Beach State on Nov. 2, 2026, to open the season at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Trey Campbell led the Utes with 20 points and eight assists, fueling a second-half surge that overcame a 13-point deficit to improve the team to a 1-0 record.
Second Half Surge Secures Win
Utah overcame a slow start during the first half, trailing Long Beach State 40-28 after the initial period. The Utes improved their performance in the second half, outscoring the Beach in the period 38-23 to seal the win.
Long Beach State saw a strong performance from McCaden Adams, who finished with 21 points and three rebounds. Yohann Sissoko contributed 15 points and five rebounds for the visiting team. Despite the effort from the Beach, Utah's efficiency in the second half proved decisive.
Key Performers for the Utes
Trey Campbell was a primary catalyst for the Utah offense, scoring 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Campbell also recorded eight assists and two steals during the 37 minutes he played.
Malek Gomma provided a significant interior presence for the Utes, recording 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson Holcombe added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Alec Anigbata contributed 10 points and one rebound.
Statistical Breakdown of the Matchup
Long Beach State's offensive effort was led by Adams and Sissoko. JJ Gray also made a notable contribution, scoring 10 points. The Beach finished the game with a 39.6% field goal percentage, compared to Utah's 51.0%.
Long Beach State struggled from the free-throw line, making 11 of 18 attempts for a 61.1% success rate. In contrast, the Utes converted 9 of 19 free throws, a 47.4% success rate. The Beach also struggled from three-point range, making 10 of 25 attempts (40.0%), while Utah made 5 of 17 (29.4%).
Efficiency and Transition Play
The game saw a significant difference in rebounding, with Long Beach State outperforming Utah 40-30. The Beach also recorded more steals, totaling 11 to Utah's 7. However, Utah was more efficient in the paint, outscoring Long Beach State 40-18 in points in the paint.
Utah also demonstrated strength in transition, recording 22 fast break points compared to 12 for Long Beach State. The Utes also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 14 points off Long Beach State's 15 turnovers, while the Beach scored 20 points off Utah's 10 turnovers.
Game Atmosphere and Standings
The game was played before an audience of 6,312 spectators at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The officials for the contest were Jason Alabanza, Layne Barney, and Darron George.
With the win, Utah moves to a 1-0 record in the Big 12, while Long Beach State drops to 0-1 in the Big West.
Season Outlook
The University of Utah's victory marks a successful start to the season as the team moves into Big 12 conference play. Long Beach State will look to bounce back from their opening loss in their upcoming schedule.
Summary of Results
The University of Utah's men's basketball season began with a 66-63 win over Long Beach State on Nov. 2, 2026. Trey Campbell and Malek Gomma led the Utes to the victory at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
