Runnin' again — Up-tempo Utes down Rebels by 14

Years ago, long before UNLV was known as the Runnin' Rebels, there was a team that played in the Huntsman Center known as the Runnin' Utes.

While Utah has made a habit of winning nearly every game in the Huntsman Center over the past 15 years under coach Rick Majerus, they were rarely known for their running.

But in an effort to jump-start an offense that has been in the habit of slow starts recently, the Utes put "Runnin'" back in their name and took it away from the Rebels in an easy 70-56 victory before 10,929 fans.

The Utes improved to 18-5 on the season and 6-2 in Mountain West Conference play, while the Rebels fell to 12-8 and for all intents and purposes, out of the MWC race at 3-5.

While 70 points doesn't seem like that much more offense for Utah, the look was much different, especially early in the game when the Utes outran the Runnin' Rebels.

By the time the game was three minutes old, the Utes already had put up 10 points and they just kept going from there. They built up a 12-point halftime lead and led by as many as 18 in the second half of a game that was never really in doubt.

"I was excited," said Utah's Kerry Rupp, who improved to 3-0 as the interim coach. "We have made such an emphasis about getting out of the gate and I thought it showed in every aspect tonight. Our defense was very good and we looked to be more aggressive."

Right from Utah's first basket, an NBA-length 3-pointer by Nick Jacobson, the Utes were looking to score. For only the second time all season, four Ute players ended up in double figures, as Jacobson scored 16, Andrew Bogut and Tim Drisdom each had 14 and Tim Frost added 13.

"We look to score baskets in as many ways as possible," said Rupp.

"We like to be able to take advantage of our defense and be able to run."

The players seem to enjoy it and while not dissing their old coach, they say there is a different feeling on offense.

"It's something we've always wanted to do," said Drisdom. ""We've had a tendency to come out and be stagnant and slow. We tried to come out tonight and push it. We're just getting out and running the floor and trying to get more easy buckets and not play so conservative."

"Obviously we're doing some things differently," said Jacobson.