The Utah men’s basketball team played without the big man on the sideline against Air Force Saturday night, and the team’s play reflected that of a team without its instructor.
Head coach Rick Majerus missed the game with a bronchial infection, and assistant Dick Hunsaker filled in like he did for 30 of 31 games last season.
Without Majerus, Utah started atypical. Air Force led 22-9 in the early going, and Utah didn’t lead until there was 4:39 left in the second half.
However, the Utes’ second 13-0 run of the game came at the right time as Utah (18-5, 8-2 Mountain West Conference) dropped Air Force (9-13, 3-6 MWC) by a final score of 59-51. The Utes remain in second place in the MWC, and are one-half game behind Wyoming.
The U’s head coach showed up for the afternoon shoot-around, but decided to leave before the game began between the Utes and the Falcons.
Enter Hunsaker, who inherited a team that were losers in two of its last three games after winning 13 straight. A second consecutive home loss after a six-year string of 48 straight home conference wins ended would be devastating and perhaps threaten Utah’s at-large attempt into the NCAA Tournament.
And the Utes were hosting ever dangerous Air Force (3-5 in the MWC entering the game), known for scrappy defense and disciplined, full 35 seconds of offense?a spitting image of Utah basketball.
Its mirror-like counterparts got the best of the Utes in the first half.
Utah started not only cold from the field (1-7), but more costly from the foul line (1-7). That equated into a 12-3 lead for Air Force until the 10:22 mark in the first half.
The lead ballooned to 13 after two A.J. Kuhle free throws with 8:34 left.
The lead was still 13 when Utah made its first 13-0 run with 4:30 to go. In a span of 2:26, the Utes tied up the Falcons at 22. Forward Phil Cullen scored 10 of his 13 points in the stretch.
However, the Academy regained control and led 28-24 at half.
Vernard Jenkins’ three pointer to open the half drove the Falcon lead to seven, but Utah tied the game at 35 at the 14:50 mark.
Air Force retaliated with a 9-2 run to reclaim its seven point lead, capped by another Jenkins trey.
But then the Utah experience showed. With a can’t-lose mentality, the U went on a second 13-0 run.
Two free throws by Trace Caton gave Utah its first lead with 4:39 left, a 47-46 advantage. After a lay up by Britton Johnsen pushed the lead to three, Air Force went cold.
Falcon Tim Keller was off on a three-pointer, and Tom Bellairs missed an attempt and the front end of a one-and-one.
Utah went the other way and chewed some clock before Travis Spivey made a lay-up for a five point lead with 2:04 to go.
Bellairs missed another one-and one and Kuhle’s offensive rebound resulted in his own long-range miss.
Meanwhile, Spivey’s 3-4 showing from the foul line and Jeff Johnsen’s five straight points put the finishing touches on Utah’s 59-51 comeback win.
Brit Johnsen had game highs of 17 points and 9 rebounds. Brother Jeff scored 12 and Spivey 10, despite 6 turnovers for the point guard.
Injured center Chris Burgess again did not play, and is still deciding whether to return or to appeal to the NCAA for another year of eligibility.
Utah returns to the Huntsman Center for its last home game of the season and the traditional Senior Day honors Monday night. Seniors Spivey, Burgess, Cullen and Jeff Johnsen will be honored before the game against New Mexico, which starts at 10:00 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.