SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah turned a 21-7 halftime deficit into a 35-21 victory over Arizona State Saturday night after scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half.
"We rallied together at halftime," said Utes Coach Kyle Whittingham. "Those guys believed. Those players believed. They were not going to be denied."
The Utes (4-2, 3-0 Pac-12) took over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South and are the last undefeated team in Pac-12 play.
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (247 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) said the team came together in the locker room at halftime.
"We pretty much just talked about, 'We know what we need to do. We've got to attack this thing,'" Rising said. "And we just talked about it, and the defense did a great job and put us in positions to continue being in places to score."
Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) could not move the ball against the Utes' defense in the second half. Sun Devils Quarterback Jayden Daniels (237 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) passed for just 97 yards after halftime and was sacked three straight times, including twice by linebacker Devin Lloyd.
The Utes, still reeling from the deaths of two players to gun violence over the past two years, credit the win to teammates watching over them.
"I firmly believe they're with us, and strengthening each and every one of us and they're bringing us closer together" Captain Devin Lloyd said of Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan. "I give this all to them."
Arizona State and UCLA are tied for second place in the Pac-12 South.
