Boylen silent on free-throw disparity

PROVO — With a couple of dozen media types huddled around him, Jim Boylen didn't answer the first question in the post-game press conference about whether anything stood out to him as the difference in the game.

Boylen looked down and didn't say a word for nearly 20 seconds. He gave a hint of what he would have said a few seconds later when a TV reporter asked about the free throw discrepancy of 32 for BYU to 10 for Utah.

"I'm not going to talk about it," he said. "Thanks for bringing it up, though. I appreciate that. You're my friend for life."

The Ute first-year coach was obviously upset about the fact that his team was whistled for nearly twice as many fouls (25 to 13) in a tough, physical battle in which neither team led by more than seven points until the final seconds.

Later Boylen alluded to the free throw disparity again when he said, "We got 11 more shots than them, turnovers are even — you guys know where the discrepancy was."

Although it seemed like the Utes often would drive to the lane, stop and throw the ball back outside rather than go to the hoop, Boylen didn't see that.

"I thought we were very aggressive going to the rim," he said.

"We held them to 39.6 on their home floor, 10 points under their average. We've all got a stat sheet."

After trailing by seven at halftime, the Utes made a game of it in the second half, cutting the lead to two several times and to one with 5:15 left on a Johnnie Bryant 3-pointer.

They got within three on a Bryant 15-footer with 1:45 left and had a chance to cut the lead to one or even tie it after Jonathan Tavernari missed a 3-pointer.

But Luka Drca's pass on a pick and roll was too far in front of Luke Nevill and went out of bounds.

When asked about the play, Boylen said, "A bad decision by Luka. I talked to him about that. I trust Luka with the ball. He's a sophomore ... that happens. I'll put the ball in his hands again. He's my guy."

Of the play, Nevill said, "It was just a miscommunication from both of us."

Boylen said he was proud of his team, despite the loss, which dropped them to 6-5 in Mountain West Conference play and 15-9 overall.

"I'm disappointed we lost, I'm not disappointed in my team," Boylen said. "My team played their (butts) off. My team battled. I'm very proud of my guys. I'm proud to be a Ute. We're going to keep fighting and getting better."

The Utes have a home game Saturday afternoon against New Mexico before going on the road for a pair of games next week at TCU and Wyoming.

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