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Senior center Chris Jackson scored eight points against Air Force on Thursday.
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Jan. 20, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah plays host to UNLV as the two winningest teams in Mountain West Conference history square off on Saturday at 7:07 p.m. (MST) in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Runnin' Utes also open a two-game home stand against the Runnin' Rebels. Tickets are available by calling (801) 581-UTIX or logging on to www.UtahTickets.com. Buy Tickets Here
The game will be broadcast on Hot Ticket 700 (KALL-AM), the Utah Sports Network, and online at www.UtahUtes.com.
Utah has the best winning percentage in Mountain West history with a 64-25 (.719) mark against league teams, including 40-4 at home. UNLV is second at 51-37 (.580).
Utah (8-8, 1-4 MWC) will try to break a four-game losing streak--with three of those coming on the road--as it returns to the Huntsman Center, where it is 7-2 this season. This past week, the Runnin' Utes fell to Colorado State, 84-78, Saturday afternoon in Fort Collins, Colo., then fell to Air Force, 66-44, on Thursday night in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Senior forward Bryant Markson (6-7, 198), a preseason all-Mountain West Conference pick, leads the Utes in scoring (14.1 ppg), assists (2.9 apg) and steals (24), and is second in rebounds (5.3 rpg). Sophomore guard Johnnie Bryant (6-0, 190), a junior college transfer in his first season with the Utes, is second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and assists (2.3 apg). Bryant is also shooting 41.1 percent (30-of-73) from three-point range and 88.5 percent from the free throw line.
UNLV (9-7, 3-1 MWC) opened league play with back-to-back wins at Wyoming and against BYU at home. After an 83-67 loss at San Diego State last Saturday, the Rebels bounced back with a 68-57 win over Colorado State in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. UNLV is 1-5 on the road this season.
Runnin' Rebel senior forward Louis Amundson (6-9, 225) ranks eighth in the MWC in scoring (14.5 ppg), third in rebounding (9.7 rpg), fifth in field goal percentage (57.0) and 15th in blocked shots (0.69 bpg). Junior guard Michael Umeh (6-2, 205) is 16th in the conference in scoring (11.9 ppg) and tied for 15th in assists (2.50 apg).
The Utes lead the all-time series 18-13 and have taken 12 of the last 15 games, including six in a row. Utah has a 10-2 edge against UNLV on its home court and has won seven in a row. UNLV's last win in Salt Lake City was on Jan. 21, 1982 (76-67) in a nonconference tilt.
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