Utah joined UNLV (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004) and BYU (2000, 2001) as the only teams to make consecutive appearances in the MWC Championship game.
With Utah's win today, the No. 1 seed is now 2-3 in MWC Tournament semifinal games, while the No. 4 seed suffered its first loss all-time MWC Tournament in semifinal action (3-1). The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are unbeaten when they make it to the finals. UNLV won the title as a No. 1 seed in 2000, while No. 2 seed BYU captured the crown the following year.
The Utes have won five straight MWC Tournament games, tying UNLV's MWC-best five-game run from 2000-02. Utah is 8-4 all-time in MWC Tournament play, while the Rebels slipped to 10-4. The Utes have won six straight vs. the Rebels, including the last two meetings in the MWC Tournament.
Seven of the last eight MWC Tournament semifinals games have been decided by seven points or less, including tonight's 73-67 margin.
Despite committing five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game, Utah maintained a 7-5 lead over UNLV at 13:59 of the half, with all seven points coming from Andrew Bogut. Bogut scored 11 of the first 13 Utah points in the first 8:07 of the game, but did not score for the remainder of the period.
Bogut recorded his fifth straight double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He has a league record 22 this season and 36 for his two-year career.
Utah jumped out to a 10-1 advantage in rebounds just over eight minutes into the game and held a 23-9 rebound advantage at halftime. The Utes finished the game with their second-highest rebound margin of the year at 41-19 - the highest was a 43-18 edge Jan. 10 vs. the Rebels. UNLV's 19 rebounds ties for the fewest in any MWC Tournament game (Air Force 19 vs. Colorado State 3/11/04).
Utah outscored UNLV 23-2 in second chance points, due in part to a season-high 16 offensive boards. All nine Utes who played recorded at least one rebound in the game, and eight of nine had an offensive carom as well.
Tonight's game had records for steals and turnovers: UNLV's 10 steals are the most in any MWC Tournament semifinal game, while the 21 Utah turnovers are an all-time MWC Tournament high.
The Rebels put together their highest and lowest scoring halves of the season in tonight's game vs. Utah. The Rebels' 18 first-half points were their lowest in a half this season and the lowest in any MWC Tournament semifinal game, while the 49 second-half points were UNLV's highest on the year-and tied the Rebels' MWC Tournament record for most in any semifinal game.
Jonas Langvad scored six straight points off the bench (2-of-2 treys) to give Utah a 21-12 lead at 7:55 of the first half as the Utes outscored UNLV 8-3 with Bogut on the bench. Langvad, who scored a combined six points (3-of-12 field goals) in the two regular season meetings vs. UNLV, tallied 10 points tonight, marking the first time he has scored double figures in 13 games.
Romel Beck scored a team-high 19 points off the bench to lead the Rebels, including 17 in the second half. Overall, the Rebels outscored the Utes 22-12 in bench points.
Andy Hannan hit a three-pointer at the 2:01 mark of the first half, snapping a drought of 7:11 without a field goal for the Rebels, allowing the Utes to go on a 12-3 run. UNLV shot just 26 percent (6-of-23) from the field in the first half-its lowest percentage in a half this season. The Rebels responded in the second half with their highest field goal percentage of the year at 64.3 percent (18-of-28).
Utah opened the second half with a 10-2 run, building a 42-20 lead at the 16:31 mark, and held a 50-32 lead with 12:45 remaining. UNLV responded with a 14-2 run over a span of just over four minutes to close the gap to 52-46.
Utah head coach Ray Giacoletti is now 7-3 overall in conference tournament games. UNLV head coach Lon Kruger is 16-14 all-time in conference tournaments.
