Josh Furlong
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jfur.ksl.com
Josh Furlong
@jfur.ksl.com
KSL.com Sports Director • Beat Writer covering Utah Athletics • AP Top 25 🏈 voter • Email: jfurlong@deseretdigital.com
The fans matter for Utah basketball.

It's not the whole story, but it's a big part the team has been missing for quite a while.

www.ksl.com/article/5143...
www.ksl.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:23 AM
AJ Dybantsa on the rivalry game: "Boy, that was crazy. That was super hostile. ... That was like a welcome to the Big 12 moment for me."
January 11, 2026 at 5:41 AM
MTO | 2H | 7:58

Utah 68 | BYU 73

Utah makes a bit of a run and cuts into the double-digit deficit. Terrence Brown with 19 points and Don McHenry with 17 points.
January 11, 2026 at 4:48 AM
This is the most aggressive I think we've seen James Okonkwo this season. He's mixing it up and working hard to get everything around him.
January 11, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Starters for the Runnin' Utes against in-state rival BYU at the Huntsman Center:

2 | G | Terrence Brown
3 | G | Don McHenry
0 | F | Seydou Traore
8 | F | Keanu Dawes
32 | F | James Okonkwo
January 11, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Today's meet was one the Red Rocks don't want to remember, but there were some positives, too.

The biggest being Avery Neff's 10.0 on vault, and the team's overall performance on the event.

www.ksl.com/article/5143...
www.ksl.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:42 AM
FINAL:

Oklahoma: 197.500
LSU: 197.450
UCLA: 197.000
Utah: 195.900

Makenna Smith: 9.850
Abbi Ryssman: 9.825
Ana Padurariu: 8.925
Ella Zirbes: 9.995
Bailey Stroud: 9.900
Avery Neff: 9.850
January 10, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Ella Zirbes with a 9.950 on bars. She's really bounced back after the first event.
January 10, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Ana Padurariu misses on her move back to the high bar and falls on her back. Tough break
January 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM
So ... the Oklahoma hype video is mostly AI, which is something. It's weird as all get out.
January 10, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Going into the final rotation, Oklahoma starting to pull away in this one

Oklahoma: 148.325
LSU: 148.150
UCLA: 147.700
Utah: 146.525

Clara Raposo: 9.800
Ella Zirbes: 9.925
Ashley Glynn: 9.975
Makenna Smith: 9.825
Zoe Johnson: 9.875
Avery Neff: 10.0
January 10, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Jordan Chiles is simply amazing on floor
January 10, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Avery Neff with the first 10.0 of the gymnastics season.

After the way this day started, wasn't expecting to type that out.
January 10, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Avery Neff closes out vault with Utah's 3rd stick of the day. Go figure vault would be the team's best event of the day so far.

And she gets a PERFECT 10.0
January 10, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Btw ... that 9.975 is a career high for Ashley Glynn
January 10, 2026 at 10:14 PM
She gets a 10.0 and a 9.950
OK, Ashley Glynn follows that up with another perfect stick. That was one of her best at Utah IMO
January 10, 2026 at 10:11 PM
OK, Ashley Glynn follows that up with another perfect stick. That was one of her best at Utah IMO
January 10, 2026 at 10:11 PM
At the midway point, the Red Rocks not getting any help

Oklahoma: 98.825
LSU: 98.600
UCLA: 98.550
Utah: 96.925

Camie Winger: 9.750
Avery Neff: 9.875
Ella Zirbes: 9.875
Bailey Stroud: 9.150
Poppy Stickler: 9.700
Makenna Smith: 9.850
January 10, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Makenna Smith with such a strong finish on floor. She's just gotten so good at perfecting that routine. Lot of energy and fun.
January 10, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Man, Poppy Stickler just got quite the disparity in scores — 9.80 & 9.60 — for what I don't know
January 10, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Man, some weird stuff happening. Bailey Stroud with a great floor routine and just slipped on her final tumbling pass right at the end.

And LSU just had a sit down on vault
January 10, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Avery Neff bounces back with a great floor routine. Utah very much so needed that.
January 10, 2026 at 9:42 PM
UCLA has a fall on beam ... but still very much in this meet unless more happens.
January 10, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Camie Winger had such a great floor routine to leadoff, and then steps out on her final tumbling pass.

This is not going well for the Red Rocks.
January 10, 2026 at 9:39 PM
After the first rotation, the Red Rocks are squarely in last place after counting 2 falls

UCLA: 49.425
Oklahoma: 49.350
LSU: 49.225
Utah: 47.775

Elizabeth Gantner: 9.875
Ella Zirbes: 9.025
Bailey Stroud: 9.200
Abbi Ryssman: 9.125
Avery Neff: 9.775
Ana Padurariu: 9.800
January 10, 2026 at 9:29 PM