Still another close loss for the Utes

Another game, another close loss for the Utah basketball team.
It’s starting to look like the same game over and over as the Utes have a chance to win at the end, only to miss key free throws and make key mistakes down the stretch. This time it ended in a 77-67 overtime loss to New Mexico at The Pit.
Once again, the Utes struggled from the free throw line, making just 9 of 16. That comes on top of a 4 of 9 effort against San Diego State and 5 of 8 against BYU and in each game, the Utes missed shots that could have led to a victory. This time it was Tyler Kepkay, an 87 percent shooter, missing one in overtime that could have put the Utes ahead and Luka Drca missing the front end of a 1-and-1 for the third straight game either in the overtime or final minute.
“We were in the top 10 in the country two weeks ago and now we can’t make a free throw,” said a frustrated Ute coach Jim Boylen. “You guys figure it out, I can’t figure it out.”
Also, Luke Nevill, only made 5 of 10 from the line and if he had made one more the Utes wouldn’t have had to play overtime.
The biggest mystery to me about the loss was how Johnnie Bryant didn’t even get a single shot attempt over the last 8:30 of regulation and five minutes of overtime. Both Boylen and Bryant tried to explain how he was covered well by New Mexico and was sort of used as a decoy in the corner to open up the lane for the rest of the Utes. However, it seemes like somehow you have to get the ball to your best shooter, who already has 23 points, at least once or twice over the last 13 minutes of the game.
Next up for Utah is a home game against TCU Saturday at noon.