The Utah men’s basketball team nearly followed its trend in recent games Thursday night in Fort Collins, Colo. Utah built an 11-point lead after 33 minutes of play against Colorado State, but the lead was whittled down to four points with five-and-a-half minutes left.
However, big trifectas by Jeff Johnsen and Phil Cullen with under five minutes in the game propelled Utah to a 72 62 win.
Utah notched win No. 20, improving to 20-6 overall, 10 3 in the Mountain West Conference. Colorado State dropped to 11-17, 2-11 MWC.
If Utah can go into Laramie, Wyo., Saturday and knock off the Cowpokes to claim the MWC regular season crown, the Utes could again grapple with the Rams in the opening round of the MWC Tournament.
In the first half of Thursday’s matchup, CSU’s 6 for-8 shooting from the field led it to an 18-12 lead.
Utah turned the tables, going on a 15-3 run capped by a slashing layup from Johnsen for a 28-23 advantage.
Still, the Rams regained a 30 28 lead heading into the showers when Brian Greene hit an eight-footer from the right corner with a couple ticks left on the clock.
In all, the first half had five lead changes. Despite seven Rams turnovers, CSU shot 65 percent from the field.
The two teams grappled for the lead in the first five minutes of the second half, but again, an inbounds 3 from Johnsen put Utah ahead 35-34.
The U built the lead to 45-38 when Cullen took a one-dribble penetration before kicking it to Trace Caton for 3.
But would the Utes have their traditional, late-second-half breakdown?
Possibly, if it weren’t for a couple big shots.
Ute center Cameron Koford fouled out with 7:40 to go, leaving the undersized Utes to contend with 7-footer Matt Nelson, who led all scorers with 22 points in the game.
An 11-point U lead was cut to four after a Nelson free throw. On the other end, Johnsen responded with a one-dribble shimmie and a quick-release 3 as the shot clock would down. Utah was up 60-53.
Cullen came up with another 3 just minutes later, and CSU had to foul. Despite two straight Jon Rakiecki 3s, Utah walked away the winner.
Jeff Johnsen set a new career-high with 21 points and he added 5 assists, while brother Britton chipped in 11 points and 14 rebounds.
The CSU tandem of Nelson and Ronnie Clark, who didn’t play when the Rams lost to the Utes in Salt Lake City, scored 29 points.