March 21, 2008

Utah Travels to Tulsa for CBI Quarterfinal Monday
The University of Utah men's basketball team picked up its first postseason victory since 2004-05 Wednesday, defeating UTEP 81-69. The Runnin' Utes will now travel to Tulsa, Okla. for a Monday contest in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational. Tipoff at the Reynolds Center is slated for 8:05 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports.

Utah enters Wednesday's game with an 18-14 overall record. The Utes defeated got 16 points and 12 boards from Luke Nevill vs. UTEP Wednesday. Johnnie Bryant led the Runnin' Utes with 17 points vs. the Miners. Monday's game will be the second straight against a Conference USA member.

Tulsa comes into Monday's matchup coming off a 61-45 win over Miami (Ohio) in the CBI's opening round. The Golden Hurricane is 21-13 overall. Tulsa is 14-2 at home this season, with its only losses at the Reynolds Center coming at the hands of Tulane and Memphis. The Golden Hurricane has won 12 of its last 16. Tulsa lost to Memphis by a 77-51 count in the C-USA Tournament championship game.

Runnin' Ute Fast Breaks
• Two Utah players are averaging double-digit points per game, while three more average 7.7. • Utah has had the edge in bench points 27 times in 32 games this year. Utah held a 44-19 edge off the bench in Wednesday's win over UTEP. • 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. • The Utes' overall win total is up seven from last season, after going 11-19 in 2006-07. Utah has assured itself of its first winning season since 2004-05. • Utah has held all but four of its opponents below their current scoring average. In the Utes' last outing, they held UTEP more than seven points below their average, giving up just 69 points. • Utah ranked 251st in the nation in scoring defense last season. In new head coach Jim Boylen's system, the Runnin' Utes are currently No. 60 in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 63.6 points per game.

Take Two, They're Free
With a 29-of-33 performance at UTEP Wednesday, Utah is still the top free-throw shooting team (by percentage) in the Mountain West Conference and one of the best in the nation. The Utes are converting at a rate of .761 from the charity stripe. They are ranked No. 1 in the MWC and No. 15 in the nation in the most recent statistical reports. Utah ranks last in the MWC in free throws attempted per game (15.8). In fact, Wednesday's 33 freebies were the most the Utes have shot in a game all season.

Down Under Double-Double
Junior center Luke Nevill recorded his first double-double of the 2008 calendar year in Wednesday's win at UTEP. Prior to the 16-point, 12-rebound performance vs. the Miners, his last double-double was Dec. 5 vs. Utah State. Wednesday's effort was his fourth of the season and the 18th of his career. More notes on Nevill: He is currently shooting .542 from the field, which ranks 47th in the nation. He has blocked 53 shots this season, ranking 71st in the nation. That's the most swats for a Ute since Andrew Bogut rejected 65 shots in 2004-05.

Senior Stepping Up
Senior guard Johnnie Bryant has been the team's No. 1 or No. 2 scorer for much of the season, despite coming off the bench. He is averaging 14.0 points per game and currently ranks 3rd in the MWC and 14th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, hitting at a .440 clip. He is the only non-starter in the Mountain West Conference's top 10 scorers. In fact, he ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring among all players who have not started a game this season. Bryant is No. 2 among players who have started fewer than one-quarter of their team's contests.

-UU-

University of Utah Men's Basketball

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