Utes come up just short

It may have looked like a last-second heartbreaker if you just saw the 61-59 final score of Utah’s loss to Gonzaga Monday night. But the score was a little deceiving since Johnnie Bryant sank a 3-pointer with 0.5 left,
Still, it was a good showing for the Utes at a packed arena that included John Stockton and World Series MVP Mike Lowell. The Utes led most of the first half and after falling behind by double digits, came back a couple of times in the second half, but just came up short at the end.
The Utes had all kinds of open shots, but just didn’t hit enough of them. They still hit 12 of 27 3-pointers and a couple of more would have meant a victory. It was a good overall showing, especially considering how short-handed the Utes were inside without Kim Tillie, who is out 4-6 weeks with a stress fracture of his right leg.
Coach Jim Boylen was very disappointed with the victory and even a little testy about a couple of questions asked. He expects a lot from his team and isn’t satisfied with a close loss, even to a national program like Gonzaga’s.
The good news for the Utes is that they should win a lot of Mountain West Conference games. After beating Cal on the road and staying with Washington, Oregon and Gonzaga until the final minute, bodes well for the MWC play against mostly inferior opponents than what they’ve already gone against.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!