Utah Edges Long Beach State 66-63 in Opener
Trey Campbell scored 20 points as Utah rallied from a second-half deficit to win its season opener.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Utah defeated Long Beach State 66-63 in the season opener for both teams. Utah trailed 47-30 in the second half before a 12-0 run gave it a 60-56 lead.
Why it matters
The win gives Utah a strong start to the season after a comeback that overcame a double-digit deficit. It also shows the team can recover from a sloppy first half, when it committed 10 turnovers.
Trey Campbell scored 20 points for Utah, while McCaden Adams added 21 and Jackson Holcombe posted 14 points and eight rebounds. Long Beach State scored 18 points off Utah's 10 first-half turnovers, and the Utah defense held the Beach to 1-of-11 shooting over the final 5 1/2 minutes.
The players
Utah Utes
The University of Utah men's basketball program, a member of the Big 12 Conference and one of the most established programs in the Mountain West region.
Long Beach State 49ers
The men's basketball team of California State University, Long Beach, which competes in the Big West Conference.
The details
Utah led 40-28 at halftime after Long Beach State had led at the break, then Long Beach State built a 47-30 second-half advantage. Utah answered with a 12-0 run, and Jackson Holcombe's three-point play cut the margin to 54-48 before Utah took a 60-56 lead.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Utah defeats Long Beach State 66-63 in the season opener.
Thursday: Utah plays Towson.
Saturday: Long Beach State plays at Montana State.
Season Trajectory
The opener sets an early tone for Utah as it begins a season with a neutral-site tournament slate, and the comeback offers a first data point on the team's late-game resilience. Long Beach State's upcoming road game at Montana State will show whether its early-season shooting struggles carry into a second contest.
Fantasy managers tracking Utah's rotation should note Trey Campbell's 20-point opener as an early usage signal. Bettors following Long Beach State's road schedule should weigh its 1-of-11 finish when projecting its next game at Montana State.
The takeaway
Early-season comebacks like Utah's can reveal depth and composure that box scores alone do not show. Watch whether turnover-heavy starts persist in the coming games.
What happens next
Utah plays Towson on Thursday, and Long Beach State plays at Montana State on Saturday.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in the Basketball section for context on Utah's season.
