Utah Tech got the stop it needed late and closed out an 87-84 win over UT Arlington on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2026, in a pace-heavy NCAA matchup that stayed within one possession down the stretch.

After trading punches for 40 minutes, Utah Tech (13-11) came out on top against UT Arlington (14-7), surviving a Mavericks offense that stacked 34 points in the first half and 38 after the break. Utah Tech answered with 33 and 39 in the two halves, respectively, and that one-point edge in each period was ultimately the difference.

How it happened

The first half set the tone: quick scoring, minimal margin for error, and no room to breathe. UT Arlington carried a 34-33 edge into the break, but Utah Tech stayed attached possession by possession, keeping the game from tilting into a multi-score deficit.

Utah Tech flipped the script in the second half. The Trailblazers edged UT Arlington 39-38 over the final 20 minutes, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a three-point win. In a game where every swing mattered, that incremental advantage—one more make, one more defensive stand—decided it.

Turning point

With the game effectively even at halftime, Utah Tech’s ability to win the second half by a single point was the pivot. The Trailblazers didn’t need a knockout run; they needed sustained execution. They got it, and it was enough to survive UT Arlington’s 38-point second-half push.

What it means going forward

For Utah Tech, the 87-84 result is a confidence builder in close-game equity—another win that reinforces its current form (WWWLW) and keeps the Trailblazers moving in the right direction at 13-11.

For UT Arlington, the loss stings because the offense did enough to win most nights, but the margins were razor thin. At 14-7 with a recent LWWLW stretch, the Mavericks will look at the one-point losses in each half as the difference between a road win and a narrow defeat.

Final score

Utah Tech 87, UT Arlington 84

Halftime

UT Arlington 34, Utah Tech 33

Second half

Utah Tech 39, UT Arlington 38