Runnin' Utes Face Runnin' Rebels in MWC Semifinal

March 14, 2008

University of Utah Runnin' Utes

(17-13)

vs.

UNLV Runnin' Rebels

(24-7)

Game No. 31 ? Friday, March 14 ? 9:05 p.m. PDT
Thomas & Mack Center ? Las Vegas, Nev.

Game Information
Series: Series tied 19-19
Series Streak: UNLV has won 1
Last Meeting: UNLV 70, Utah 63 (3/8/2008)
Last Meeting in Las Vegas: UNLV 70, Utah 63 (3/8/2008)

Television: CBS College Sports (formerly 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

Runnin' Utes Face Host Rebels Friday in MWC Tournament
The University of Utah men's basketball team will take on the home team -- UNLV -- in the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament Thursday. The Ute-Lobo contest tips off at 9:05 p.m. PST at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center and will air on The Mtn. and CBS College Sports (CSTV).

Utah enters Friday's game with a 17-13 overall record and is the No. 6 seed in the tournament. The Utes defeated New Mexico 82-80 in overtime in Thursday's quarterfinal. Utah held the lead for much of the second half. Four Utes scored in double digits, led by a 26-point effort from Luke Nevill. Lawrence Borha added 13, while Shaun Green scored 12 and Johnnie Bryant tacked on 11.

UNLV comes into Friday's matchup coming off a hard-fought 89-88 victory over TCU. The Rebels are 24-7 overall and are the No. 2 seed in the tournament. UNLV got a traditional three-point play from Wink Adams with 3.4 seconds remaining to take the one-point win. Adams scored a game-high 29 points vs. the Horned Frogs. UNLV and Utah each won their home game in the season series this year.

Runnin' Ute Fast Breaks
? Two Utah players are averaging double-digit points per game, while three more average 7.6 or more.
? Utah has had the edge in bench points 25 times in 30 games this year. Utah held a 43-21 edge off the bench in Thursday's win over New Mexico.
? 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 513-330 (.608) record against current members of the Mountain West Conference. The Utes have a .500-or-better record against every other member of the league.
? The Runnin' Utes currently rank No. 1 in the MWC in field-goal percentage. Utah is converting at a .481 clip from the field, which also ranks No. 17 in the nation in the latest NCAA rankings.
? Utah was No. 4 in the MWC in scoring defense this week, currently allowing 63.5 points per game. The Utes have held all but four of their opponents below their current averages in regulation play this season.

Take Two, They're Small
With an 18-of-24 performance Tuesday vs. Colorado State, Utah is still the top free-throw shooting team (by percentage) in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes are converting at a rate of .752 from the charity stripe. They are ranked No. 1 in the MWC and No. 17 in the nation in the most recent statistical reports. While Utah has shot the ball very well at the line for much of the season, the Utes have struggled somewhat getting there. Utah ranks last in the MWC in free throws attempted per game (15.6).

Big Off The Bench
Junior center Luke Nevill ranked ninth in the nation in field-goal percentage last season, shooting .637. The 7-1 Aussie hasn't been quite that hot this season. However, he has heated up since coming off the bench in the last four games, going 36-of-63 (.571) and has raised his overall field-goal percentage to .547 (No. 2 in MWC). Nevill has averaged 22.3 points since coming off the bench. Nevill's 1.63 blocked shots per game is No. 1 in the MWC. His 49 rejections this season are the most for a Ute since Andrew Bogut swatted 65 shots in 2004-05.

-UU-

Upcoming Events

Recent Results