# 1985–86 Utah Utes men's basketball team

The 1985–86 Utah Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah as a member of the Western Athletic Conference during the 1985-86 season. Head coach Lynn Archibald would lead the Utes to a tie for the WAC regular season title and an NCAA tournament appearance.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular Season ||||||
| Nov 22, 1985* | | Tennessee State | W 80–49 | 1–0 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Nov 23, 1985* | | Utah State | L 84–87 | 1–1 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Nov 29, 1985* | | Houston Baptist | W 78–61 | 2–1 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Nov 30, 1985* | | Cal State Fullerton | W 80–66 | 3–1 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Dec 2, 1985* | | at Alabama | L 57–73 | 3–2 | Coleman Coliseum Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Dec 4, 1985* | | Santa Clara | W 76–71 | 4–2 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Dec 7, 1985* | | at Weber State | L 67–68 | 4–3 | Dee Events Center Ogden, Utah |
| Dec 14, 1985* | | Colorado | W 82–62 | 5–3 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Dec 21, 1985* | | Arizona | W 76–68 | 6–3 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Dec 28, 1985* | | at Utah State | W 61–56 | 7–3 | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Logan, Utah |
| Jan 2, 1986 | | at New Mexico | L 58–71 | 7–4 (0–1) | University Arena Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Jan 4, 1986 | | at No. 19 UTEP | L 52–62 | 7–5 (0–2) | Special Events Center El Paso, Texas |
| Jan 10, 1986 | | San Diego State | W 93–89 $^{OT}$ | 8–5 (1–2) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Jan 11, 1986 | | Hawaii | W 89–67 | 9–5 (2–2) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Jan 16, 1986 | | at Colorado State | W 59–54 | 10–5 (3–2) | Moby Arena Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Jan 18, 1986 | | at Wyoming | L 79–94 | 10–6 (3–3) | Arena-Auditorium Laramie, Wyoming |
| Jan 22, 1986 | | Air Force | W 82–60 | 11–6 (4–3) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Jan 25, 1986 | | at BYU | L 69–87 | 12–7 (4–4) | Marriott Center Provo, Utah |
| Jan 29, 1986* | | at No. 14 Notre Dame | L 64–94 | 12–8 | Joyce Center Notre Dame, Indiana |
| Feb 6, 1986 | | at Hawaii | W 78–63 | 13–8 (5–4) | Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Feb 8, 1986 | | at San Diego State | W 59–58 | 14–8 (6–4) | San Diego Sports Arena San Diego, California |
| Feb 14, 1986 | | No. 15 UTEP | W 71–67 | 15–8 (7–4) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Feb 15, 1986 | | New Mexico | W 60–59 | 16–8 (8–4) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Feb 20, 1986 | | at Air Force | W 64–63 | 17–8 (9–4) | Clune Arena Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Feb 22, 1986 | | BYU | W 74–71 | 18–8 (10–4) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Feb 27, 1986 | | Wyoming | W 74–72 | 19–8 (11–4) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Mar 1, 1986 | | Colorado State | W 80–64 | 20–8 (12–4) | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah |
| WAC Tournament ||||||
| Mar 6, 1986* | | vs. San Diego State Quarterfinals | L 71–73 | 20–9 | Arena-Auditorium Laramie, Wyoming |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 13, 1986* | (14 W) | vs. (3 W) No. 8 North Carolina First Round | L 72–84 | 20–10 | Dee Events Center Ogden, Utah |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. ||||||