The Runnin' Utes spent all week in practice preparing to face a tough New Mexico press8212;and the focus paid off for Utah as it overcame the press en-route to a 69-68 win over the Lobos.

Don't expect Utah to boast about Tuesday's overtime win against BYU8212;the hottest team in the Mountain West Conference is coming to town.

Two of the Mountain West Conference's leading scorers, Utah center Luke Nevill and BYU forward Lee Cummard, put on a scoring clinic in the first half of Tuesday night's game, scoring 16 points apiece in the 20 minute half.

After remaining relatively quiet in regulation, the senior from Vancouver, British Columbia, erupted in overtime with 10 of his 19 points coming in the last five minutes8212;10 of the Utes' 23 overtime points.

The Utes are back on top of the Mountain West Conference, and Boylen proved that Utah is where he belongs with the team's first win against BYU since 2006.

There has been a trend in the Mountain West Conference this season of the home team actually having an advantage in its building. Utah will try to continue that theme tonight as it hosts archrival BYU.

The Runnin' Utes encountered the same ill fate as their southern rivals against the team from Sin City on Saturday.

This weekend, the Runnin' Utes will try to do what their southern rival could not8212;protect their home floor against the UNLV Rebels.

Under the guidance of head coach Jim Boylen, all 15 Utah players are taking part in the coaching process8212;a change that Boylen believes is contributing to the Utes' recent success.

The one good thing about the first-place Runnin' Utes' upcoming schedule is that if they can get through the next two weeks, they'll keep that spot.