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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle Monday, March 3 0, 1 r Cutting Down the Nets... Utes Win Eighth Conference Title In Nine Seasons RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Sports Editor and it was important to give a good showing for all the fans that have supported us," Koford said, "It was a tremendous testimony to (the team's selflessness and their desire to stay cohesive and together," coach Kick Majerus said. "We've beat the top two teams in the MWC twice, which is difficult to do." Though BYU beat Colorado State Saturday in I'rovo to claim a share of the conference crown, the Utes own the tiebreaker because they have beaten the Cougars in both of the teams' meetings this season. That means the Utes will take the No. seed into the MWC Tournament's first round in Las Vegas against No. 8 Air Force Thursday at 6 p.m. (I'ST). Had the Utes lost, they would have fell to No. 2 in the conference standings and played No. 7 New Mexico, to whom the Utes lost nine days ago. After Utah's devastating home loss to Colorado State Thursday, the Utes had only two days to regroup for Wyoming, last year's Mountain West champion and a team the Utes had lost to twice last season. 67-5- 5 It w;is only appropriate. Only appropriate for Utiih's three seniors Britton Johnsen, Trace Caton and Cameron Koford, who were honored before playing their last game Saturday in the Huntsman Center to t ii r tin day and secure the Utes eij'.lith conference championship in the last nine years. Caton scored a career-hig20 points as the trio of seniors combined for , more than half of Utah's home win MWC) points in its over Wyoming (20-9- , "There's no other way I'd rather go out," said Caton. "It's a picture-perfeending." "Ii was a great game on everyone's h 3 (23-6- 86-7- 0 ). ct 1 last-minu- te 1 was ion.. My wife and family were all here anouiii. It high-emo-- high-energ- see MEN'S HOOPS, page 8 Utes' Title Run Tighter Than It Should've Been CHRIS BELLAMY Chronicle Sports Writer I'licy didn't have to make so difficult on themselves. things I.obos, who defeated Utah nine days ago. The setting was all too familiar. Suddenly, the Utes' play looked 1 1 onship celebration, a desperation three horn Rams' freshman Micheal Morris threw Utah into uncertainty and left the team's title chances hinging on Saturday afternoon's showdown with Wyoming, a team that has given the Utes plenty of trouble in recent years. In fact, it was the Cowboys who broke the Ties' streak of seven consecutive MWC titles last season, dropping Utah to a No. 2 seed for last year's tailspin. But in the end, the championship they could have easily let slip away was rightfully theirs following a season-endin- decisive 86-7- Another loss would have dropped 2 yet again in this week's tournament, setting up a meeting with the New Mexico victory over the 0 d WOMEN'S HOOPS (22-5- Air Force (7-2- 0) ) FG-- Player Caton FT-- A Reb A Ml Johnsen Frost Drisdom 9 5-- 7 6 1 17 7 0-- 0 5 0-- 0 3 3 4 4 4-- 8 4-- 4 2 2 14 2-- 5 6-- 8 2 5 11 0-- 0 -3 6 3-- 2-- 2 Team Totals 3 28-5- 19-2- 4 1, Frost 2-- Markson 8 3 2 3 3 4 4 0 0 2 34 19 86 8 5-- 2-- Drisdom 0-- 4 (Caton M. Jackson 11-- Three-Pointer- Jacobson Johnsen 20 3-- 1- -2 Chaney Markson Koford Pts 1 6-- -1 Jacobson M Jackson A 0- - Chaney Turnovers: 6 (.Johnsen ). 2, Frost, Jacobson, Koford, Team). WYOMING FG-Player Rttnqhausl 2 FT-- A A 0-- 0 Ries Nsnw-AmdH- 2 10-1- 4 Richrdsn 8 A Pts 2 2 2 3 2 3 4 0 24 5 3 3 16 2 15 2-- 2 0-- 0 9 0 2-- 4 0 0 0 1 4 4 Straight 2-- 4 6 Makun Adams Reb McMillan 0-- 1 0-- 0 0 0 0 Correa 0-- 0 0-- 0 1 0 0 0 2 10 70 Wildenbrgl-Team Totals 1 0 s: 35 4 Richardson ). I , ' 8 4 26-5- 8 Three-Pointer- $ rV (Straight Adams Turnovers: 8 (Ries 3, Nsonwu-Amad- " 3-- 8, Iff II? y . ' t - 5 Rotting-hau- s 0-- Rottin-hau- s, Richardson, i, Makun, Adams). 46, Wyoming 32 HALFTIME: Utah 3 , S - 1 ATTENDANCE: 13,132 .1 ....ii .J Jy. Utah coach Majerus waves at the crowd after giving the net a trim. ' - 1 H Rick W omen Go Into MWCs on a 9ST see MWC TITLE, page 8 1W Saturday afternoon's game was a fitting finale to the regular season for the 2 U women's basketball team (22-MWC), which topped Air Force 2 on the road in a MWC) defensive performance indicastrong tive of the Utes' entire season. After a disappointing performance last Thursday, where Utah fell on the road to New Mexico, the team rebounded with a balanced offensive effort, led by junior Carley Marshall's 14 points and seven rebounds. The Ute defense, the backbone of the team all year long, held the Falcons to just 33 percent shooting from the floor. The Utes had control of the game from start to finish. Marshall's jumper set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, as the Utes never trailed. After an early three from Air Force forward Shawna Neff that tied the game at Marshall knocked down another basket to give Utah a lead that wouldn't be challenged again. 5, 12-- (7-2- 0, 67-4- ' ' VV .... opening-pos- session - -- y,v - 1 Marc Jackson handed out five in Utah's win over Wyoming. assists MEN'S HOOPS vs Utah (23-6- Air Force A (11-1- 313 at 7 p.m. Las Vegas Las Vegas 6) ) see WOMEN'S hoops, page SWIMMING at Utah NCAA Diving Qualif. 313-1- 5 All Day SiteTBA CHRONICLE SPORTS EDITOR RORY BRUNNER 8 If : ) m , ," ; 1 ill " ;A... Kelsy Stireman and ... am m A , the Utes play C Air Force GYMNASTICS vs Utah LSU 314 at r m I- I . ifim :xs 5-- 5, 312 at p.m. 1 UTAH CHRIS BELLAMY Chronicle Sports Writer Cowboys. Utah to No. vs Utah 70 Wyoming g tourney first-roun- 86 Utah strangely reminiscent of last year's Sure, the U men's basketball team goi to cut down the nets of the Huntsman Center this weekend afier sealing another MWC champi; onship. Sure, they've earned a No. seed tor the MWC tourney and assured themselves a berth in the Big Dance. But they sure had to sweat it out. lust a few days ago, the U men's basketball team had a chance to clinch the tegular season conference title outright. Instead, the Utes were shocked on their home floor by Colorado State, missing, out on a golden opportunity to secure a No. seed. With the Utes two seconds away from a champi- c 2 0 0 3 (5-4- ) (8-6- ) J again at the v MWC - Tournament. BASEBALL at UTAH (8-7- SDSU 7 p.m. 314-1- Huntsman Center RBRUNNERCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU J (7-1- 6 ) 4) at 6 p.m. San Diego, Calif. 5816397 I |