Utah Utes basketball: This time, Utes get to the line

A year ago, it left Utah coach Jim Boylen somewhat speechless. His inaugural season with the Utes included two setbacks to BYU and a wide free-throw disparity in favor of the Cougars.

How wide?

Try 47-18. That's the difference between how many foul shots each team attempted over the two meetings in 2007-08.

Boylen declined to comment on the topic following the first game. After the second, he offered a sarcastic response to inquiring reporters.

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

On Tuesday, Boylen changed his tune.

The Utes went to the line 40 times, making 31, in a 94-88 overtime win over the Cougars. BYU went 13-of-22 from the stripe

"We won the free-throw game and the rebound game (40-32)," Boylen said. "That's what you have to do in these big games."

Luke Nevill led he way with a career-high 32 points. The 7- foot-2 senior center was 12-of-14 from the line.

"We were just aggressive. We were driving the ball real well and we were just finishing at the rim," Nevill said. "That's how it goes. If you're aggressive it pays off. The refs are going to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Utah didn't attempt its first free throws until nearly six minutes had passed. That's when Nevill capped a three-point play after getting fouled by BYU's Chris Miles. Nevill added a couple more free throws a few minutes later as the Utes went on to shoot more freebies (11) in the first half than they did in both full games against BYU last year.

"If we get confident and we go to the rim hard and strong we'll get good calls," Nevill said.

BYU was whistled for 28 fouls and five Utes made free throws. Nevill topped the team by missing just a pair.

"That's something I worked on in practice — just shooting the ball well," he said. "I'm going to get fouled when I'm in the post. It's just going to happen."

And it did, while complementing a 10-of-12 performance from the field.

"It was great," Nevill said of his best game offensively as a Ute. "The win was better, though. It's my last year on the Huntsman floor playing against BYU. So that was huge to win that game."

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com