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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Joel Box scored 12 points in his first start of the season and New Mexico overcame another late game scoring slump to beat Utah 64-53 Saturday.
New Mexico (13-9, 4-5 MWC) snapped a two-game losing streak. The Lobos had back-to-back losses to UNLV and Brigham Young in games in which New Mexico failed to score a field goal in the final five minutes of those games.
This time it was Utah (10-10, 3-6 MWC) that struggled offensively.
Utah had just five field goals in the first half, missing 15 of 20 field goals. The Utes shot better in the second half, hitting 11 of 21 shots, but still trailed 56-40 with 5:48 left after New Mexico center David Chiotti scored inside.
But New Mexico's shooters again went cold and Utah scored nine straight points. The run ended with a 3-pointer by point guard Johnnie Bryant that got the Utes within 56-49 with 3:41 left. Bryant led the Utes in scoring with 15 points, 10 of them in the second half.
New Mexico guard Mark Walters got the Lobos offense going again with a basket inside with 1:24 remaining. Kyle Prochaska followed with a layup and David Chiotti hit two free throws and a dunk off a steal.
Walters and Chiotti each scored 14 points and Prochaska had five offensive rebounds and 9 points.
The Lobos scored the game's first seven points as Box hit a 12-footer and Walters followed with a baseline jumper and 3-pointer. New Mexico then went scoreless for the next 7 1/2 minutes, and the Utes took their only lead of the game at 8-7 on a bankshot by Jonas Langvad with 11:39 left in the first half.
The Utes' lead disappeared quickly as New Mexico countered with an 11-2 run. Box, who twice this season quit the team but was allowed to return, scored five points in that spurt by the Lobos.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-02-04-06 1954MST
