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Saturday, February 13
Salt Lake City, Utah
7:35 PM
University of Utah
82
vs
55
Hawaii
Utes Down Rainbows
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
February 13, 1999
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Hanno Mottola's game is back - and that's bad news for the rest of college basketball.
Mottola scored 10 points in less than two minutes during a decisive second-half run as 14th-ranked Utah trounced Hawaii 82-55 Saturday night for its 15th straight win.
Though Utah (20-4, 10-0 Western Athletic Conference) struggled to pull away from the Rainbows, Mottola's spree, capped by back-to-back dunks, highlighted a 20-5 Utah run to start the second half. He finished with 23 points - 17 after halftime - and five rebounds.
Mottola had struggled with his shot and his confidence during the previous four weeks, even as the Utes were playing their best ball of the season. But against the Rainbows, the Finnish forward felt the flow.
"For the first time in a couple of weeks, I felt pretty good," Mottola said. "A couple of times they left me open, and Andre (Miller) tossed me the ball and I just dunked it."
A television crew from Mottola's homeland has followed him around campus for the past week, and Utah coach Rick Majerus - usually sparing in his praise of the junior forward - is pleased with the way Mottola has handled the added pressure.
"The big man hit some tough shots and really turned things around for us," Majerus said. "Hanno's defense and his offense are both at a point where he can play with anybody in the country."
Though his teammates can't understand the scrutiny under which Mottola is viewed in Finland, they know a camera when they see it.
"We haven't been making fun of him with that crew everywhere," Miller said with a laugh. "I've been hanging around, trying to get in the shot on Finnish television."
With the win, Utah all but clinched its fifth straight regular season WAC title. The Runnin' Utes lead second-place UTEP by three games in the Pacific Division with four to play.
The win also was Utah's school-record 33rd straight in the Huntsman Center, the third-longest homecourt winning streak in the nation. Utah clinched its fifth straight 20-win season and eighth in the last nine years.
"It's almost like last year, except it's even better because it's in the middle of the season," Miller said. "We're just getting better every game."
After beginning the second half against San Diego State with a 21-0 run on Thursday, Utah again came out strong after halftime against the Rainbows. Miller keyed the run with three assists, including a beautiful full-court pass to Tony Harvey for a dunk.
Utah has beaten struggling Hawaii (5-18, 2-9) nine straight times and in 16 of their last 17 meetings. The Rainbows, who were outrebounded 38-22 by the Utes, have lost 11 of their last 13 games.
The Utes, who haven't lost since Dec. 12, remained on track for just the second perfect Western Athletic Conference season ever. Utah still must visit Fresno State and play host to New Mexico in the final four games of the regular season.
Reserve Phil Cullen had seven points and eight rebounds for Utah, while Miller finished with 16 points and seven assists.
Despite shooting 61 percent, Utah played an indifferent first half during which the undermanned Rainbows kept it close. Marquette Alexander and Mike Robinson scored 24 of Hawaii's first 28 points and finished with 17 and 12, respectively.
Hawaii held a 9-7 lead early but had just one field goal over the next eight minutes as Utah's defense forced turnover after turnover. Miller's free throw with no time on the clock gave Utah a 33-25 halftime lead.
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
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