Utah guard Lawrence Borha was determined to come up big in Tuesday's game against 11th-ranked Air Force.

"I was mad," he said after helping the Utes shock the Falcons 85-79 in the Huntsman Center. "I didn't play in the last game. So I just wanted to prove to everybody that I can play. "

Borha scored a career-high 13 points, missing just one of his seven shots from the field, in the upset.

"This game I was open. They just left me open," Borha said. "It's like they disrespected me and I had to knock down shots."

He did.

Borha sparked the Utes in the first half, scoring a team-high nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in 11 minutes of action. He also grabbed two rebounds as Utah built a 31-21 halftime lead.

The sophomore gave the Utes their biggest lead, at 25-10, with back-to-back baskets. Air Force countered with four straight points before Borha responded with a 3-pointer to give Utah some breathing room again.

"L.B. was great coming off the bench," said head coach Ray Giacoletti, who was pleased with the contribution of several players in Utah's first win since a 94-70 decision over Virginia on Dec. 20. "It's a team effort and we need people to continue to step up and help us."

As for Borha never leaving the bench on Saturday, Giacoletti said it was nothing personal. The Utes are just pushing buttons in an attempt to turn things around.

"No reason, just trying to find combinations — searching. It wasn't premeditated," he explained. "I'm proud of him for hanging in there. I think he's a little bit better when he's (ticked) off, to be honest with you." Giacoletti added that Borha is a competitor and responded to the challenge.

"I am a competitor," said Borha, who was motivated by not playing against the Lobos. "I didn't know what was going on. I was just like, man, what's going on? Did I do something? But it all paid off in this game."

Borha played well down the stretch — scoring twice and dishing out three assists. He's confident his performance and that of the team as a whole will mark a turning point in a season filled with disappointing setbacks.

"Yes we can turn it around," Borha said. "We are going to turn it around."

---

E-mail: dirk@desnews.com