No fun rerun — Utes lose a close one in OT

ALBUQUERQUE — These close losses are getting old in a hurry for the Utah basketball team.

For the third game in a row, the Utes had a chance to win in the final minute, only to lose, this time 77-67 in overtime to New Mexico Tuesday night in The Pit. It marked the second time in a week the Utes have lost a road game in overtime.

The deflating defeat was a near repeat of losses to San Diego State and BYU as the Utes battled back from a large second-half deficit and had a chance to win, but weren't able to grab a win due to lack of execution down the stretch and a failure to make key free throws.

"I'm disappointed, not discouraged," said Utah Jim Boylen. "Our team's battling. Our team cares. Our team has bought in."

His Utes overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and actually led by nine points with under nine minutes left in the game. But they couldn't score for six minutes as the Lobos came back to force overtime and were outmanned in the overtime with a lineup consisting of four guards and forward Shaun Green, after Luke Nevill fouled out.

Utah finished 9 of 16 from the foul line, compared to New Mexico's 18 of 25, including their last 11 of 13.

"You can analyze the stats any way you want, but we make our free throws, we win the game," Boylen said. "That's three games in a row."

Nevill made just 5 of 10 on the night, while Tyler Kepkay, an 87 percent free throw shooter, and Luka Drca, each missed in the overtime.

Johnnie Bryant led the Utes with 25 points, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. However, after sinking a 3-pointer to put the Utes up 56-47 with 8:30 left, he didn't get a single shot the rest of the game.

Boylen explained that the New Mexico defense was overplaying Bryant, which left the lane open for other Utes to drive. The only problem was, over the last eight minutes of regulation, the Utes only made two of seven shots and turned the ball over four times.

Bryant said the Lobos were "face-guarding" him and he wasn't able to ever get the ball.

The Lobos dominated the first half, leading 31-21 as center Daniel Faris, who went scoreless against Air Force on Saturday, was able to put up 11 shots against the Utes, while Luke Nevill had zero field goal tries in the first half.

For the second straight game, the Utes started Bryant instead of Carlon Brown in the second half and Bryant delivered two quick 3-pointers to get the Utes back in the game.