Runnin' Utes Look For Sweep of Falcons Saturday

Feb. 8, 2008

University of Utah Runnin' Utes

(13-8, 4-4 Mountain West Conference)

vs.

Air Force Falcons

(12-9, 4-4 Mountain West Conference)

Game No. 22 ? Saturday, Feb. 9 ? 4 p.m.
Clune Arena ? U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

Game Information
Series: Utah leads, 44-12
Series Streak: Utah has won 2
Last Meeting: Utah 58, Air Force 36 (1/5/2008)
Last Meeting at USAFA: Air Force 69, Utah 43 (2/14/2007)

Television: CSTV

Radio: Utah Sports Radio Network
Mike Lageschulte (play by play), Joe Cravens (color analyst)
UtahUtes.com: Audio/live stats

Complete Release in PDF Format

Utes Look For Sweep of Falcons Saturday
The University of Utah men's basketball team will start its second run through the Mountain West Conference Saturday at Air Force. The Runnin' Utes will be looking for a season sweep of the Falcons for the first time since 2005. Saturday's game will be televised nationally on CSTV.

Utah enters Saturday's game with a 13-8 overall record and a 4-4 MWC mark. With Wednesday night's win over UNLV, the Utes are .500 in conference play for the first time since 2005. Senior guard Johnnie Bryant and junior center Luke Nevill each enjoyed season-best nights against the Runnin' Rebels. They each scored 26 points to lead Utah to the 81-73 victory.

Air Force enters Saturday's matchup with a 12-9 overall record and a 4-4 mark in MWC play. The Falcons are coming off a 49-38 loss at San Diego State Wednesday. Air Force has not lost back-to-back conference games this season. The Falcons' league victories have been over UNLV, at Wyoming, over Colorado State and at TCU.

Runnin' Ute Fast Breaks
? Two Utah players are averaging double-digit points per game, while four more average 5.5 or more.
? Utah led at halftime and went on to defeat UNLV Wednesday night. The Runnin' Utes are now 13-1 this season when taking an edge into the locker room.
? Utah has held six different opponents to 54 points or less this season. The Runnin' Utes did not hold a single 2006-07 opponent to less than 55 points.
? Utah holds a 509-325 (.610) record against current members of the Mountain West Conference. The Utes have a winning record against every other member of the league.
? The Utes currently rank No. 1 in the MWC in field-goal percentage. Utah is converting at a .490 clip from the field.
? Utah is No. 2 in the MWC in scoring defense, allowing 61.5 points per game. The Runnin' Utes also rank 29th in the nation in that category this week.

Scoring Explosion
While much of Utah's focus this season has been on improveed defense, the Utes' offense came alive in Wednesday night's win over then-league-leading UNLV. Utah's 81-point effort was easily its highest output in MWC action and was the most since scoring 83 vs. Dixie State. The Utes also enjoyed their most prolific night at the free-throw line this season, setting season-high marks for FTs made (23) and attempted (28).

Dynamic Duo
Luke Nevill and Johnnie Bryant each scored season-high totals of 26 points Wednesday night vs. UNLV. Their 52 points accounted for 64 percent of the Utes' scoring vs. the Rebels. For the season, Nevill (306) and Bryant (296) have combined to score 602 of Utah's 1,445 points (42 percent). Nevill or Bryant have either led Utah in scoring or tied for that honor in 14 of Utah's 21 games this season.

-UU-

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