The outcome was pretty much decided in a two-minute span late in the game when the Lobos sank three straight 3-pointers to help turn a five-point deficit into a four-point lead.

Utah was leading 57-52 with 5:19 left after Nevill sank one of two free throws. J.R. Giddens scored to cut the lead to three and, after Nevill and Lawrence Borha both missed, New Mexico's Chad Toppert knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner off an inbounds play.

Then after a Shaun Green miss, Giddens hit a 3 from the same spot as Toppert to put the Lobos up for good. After a basket by Utah's Kim Tillie, Jamal Smith sank another 3 from the top of the circle to make it 63-59 with 1:45 left.

"They go 8-for-14 for the game (from 3-point range) ... and they made three big ones," said Boylen, who talked proudly of his team's 3-point defense (32 percent) in MWC play.

When the UNM lead stretched to 69-61 with 45 seconds left, the Utes appeared dead.

But they battled back.

Borha made a three-point play off a drive and Bryant sank a 3-pointer to make it 70-67 with 15 seconds left. Smith made 1-of-2 and then Kepkay hit a pair of free throws with 9.7 seconds left to bring the Utes within two at 71-69 before the final, disappointing sequence.

Giddens led the Lobos (22-6, 9-4) with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Smith had 17 points off the bench, including 9-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Bryant led Utah (15-10, 6-6) with 17 points, including 9-of-9 from the foul line, while Nevill had 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field.

Luka Drca had six assists, including four straight to Nevill late in the game, but he fouled out with 57 seconds left.

The Utes head out on the road for two games this week at TCU on Wednesday and at Wyoming on Saturday.

---

E-mail: sor@desnews.com