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Utes Face Upstart Cougars in WAC Tourney
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 4, 1999
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A powerful Utah team, unbeaten in conference play this year, takes on Brigham Young in the Western Athletic Conference quarterfinals Thursday in Las Vegas.
The No. 8 Utes (24-4) became only the second team in WAC history to go unbeaten in conference play. A 77-47 win over New Mexico on Saturday gave them a perfect 14-0 conference record.
Texas Christian is the only other team to go through the conference unbeaten, going 14-0 in the 1997-98 season.
The Utes have won 19 straight games and have been playing outstanding defense. Coming into Thursday's game, Utah is ranked third in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 54.8 points per game.
Brigham Young (12-15) faces a difficult challenge Thursday, as the Utes have already beaten the Cougars twice this season, including a 71-46 rout at BYU on Feb. 6.
Though his team has had success against the Cougars, Utah coach Rick Majerus says it doesn't mean much if his team does not come to play.
"I think when you get in these tournaments, everyone understands the carrot you are playing for. And I think the second thing is, everyone understands it's a new season." he said.
The last time these two squads met in the WAC tournament, Brigham Young defeated the Utes, 96-65, in 1994.
Brigham Young earned the right to face the Utes after a 90-74 upset of Texas Christian in Tuesday's first-round game.
Nathan Cooper scored a career-high 24 points to give BYU its first conference tourney win since that victory over Utah in 1994.
Cooper led four players in double figures, as Mark Bigelow added 20 points, Michael Vranes 19 and Mekeli Wesley 17.
BYU's last win against Utah was a 64-57 victory in 1995.
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