Weber State men’s basketball sets 3 future games with Utah
In-state series returns to activity this year
Rick Bowmer, Associated Press
Weber State guard KJ Cunningham, left, drives to the basket as Utah guard Both Gach (11) defends during a game Dec. 14, 2019, in Salt Lake City.Scheduling games against fellow teams from the Beehive State may be among the changes Alex Jensen ushers in for the University of Utah men’s basketball program.
It’s at least true for one dormant in-state series: the one Utah hasn’t been playing with Weber State. Consider that box checked.
The Wildcats and Utes have signed up for three future games, according to a contract obtained by the Standard-Examiner.
WSU and Utah are set to play on Nov. 8, the first Saturday of the 2025-26 schedule. The two squads will also face off in 2026 and 2028. All three games are slated for Salt Lake City and Utah will pay Weber State $95,000 for each one.
Perhaps the old home-and-home series are relics of a different era but, considering Utah hasn’t signed a direct deal with Weber State to play basketball in at least 15 years, it’s progress for the state of men’s hoops in the state.
Weber and the U of U finished the last contract between the men’s basketball teams with a game on Dec. 22, 2011, a 80-51 Weber State win in what is likely the last time the two foes will play in Ogden. The teams have played just once since then, a December 2019 matchup (a 60-49 Utah win) at the Delta Center as part of the three-year Beehive Classic event.
Utah is 27-14 in the series, which dates back to 1972. Utah holds a 17-3 advantage in games held at the Huntsman Center, including a five-game win streak; Weber State last won at the Huntsman Center in 2000.
Jensen, a former Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks assistant coach, was named head coach of his alma mater on March 6. He totaled 1,279 points and 896 rebounds in his four-year career during the heyday of Runnin’ Utes basketball, including the 1997-98 team that finished as national runners-up. As a player, he was 3-1 against Weber State.
Utah joins three other known games on Weber State’s schedule next season. WSU will also host Utah Tech and travel to Utah Valley and UC Irvine as part of existing contracts.
