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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Luke Nevill had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Utah over Brigham Young 79-60 Wednesday, ending the Cougars' four-game winning streak and avoiding a sweep in the state rivalry.
Johnnie Bryant scored 14 and Bryant Markson and Shaun Green added 13 points each for Utah (11-10, 4-6 Mountain West), which hasn't been swept by BYU since 1994.
The Cougars (14-7, 6-4) managed to cut an 18-point lead to nine midway through the second half, but the Utes never let it get any closer despite a few late scares.
Brock Reichner led BYU with 21 points, keeping the Cougars in it by making six of eight 3-pointers. Keena Young added 14 points and Trent Plaisted scored 12 for BYU, which was just 9-for-32 from the floor while trying to come back in the second half.
Utah had lost six of eight since opening the Mountain West season with a win over New Mexico on Jan. 4, but there were no signs of a slump in the rivalry game Wednesday. The Utes were 25-for-48 from the floor and used runs of 11-0 and 9-0 in the first half to take over the game and avenge a 12-point loss to the Cougars last month.
Two of the loudest cheers of the night had nothing to do with what was happening on the floor. Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham received a warm greeting when he was shown on the big-screen monitor, then it got even louder when the score of the women's game in Provo -- a 70-52 victory for Utah -- was announced.
Ute fans took a moment away from the men's game to chant "overrated" for the Cougars, who are ranked No. 18 nationally in the women's poll.
There was plenty for Utah fans to cheer until the Cougars started to rally about midway through the second half and used an 11-2 run, getting within 53-44 on Plaisted's three-point play with 8:30 left to play.
But Utah stopped the rally and had a solid enough lead after the first half to hold off the Cougars.
After BYU opened the game quickly with an 11-5 run, Utah took over after a long delay to review a call. With 13:32 left in the first half, BYU was called for a shot clock violation, but Green also fouled Reichner on the play and the officials reviewed the video for several minutes before ruling the initial call stood.
After the delay, BYU took a 13-9 lead, then Utah scored 11 straight. Tim Drisdom, Green and Bryant hit consecutive 3-pointers to start the run. The Utes added a 9-0 run later in the half and led 39-24 at halftime after Nevill's layup with eight seconds remaining.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
