Jan. 17, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Luke Nevill had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Utah ended No. 13 Air Force's 13-game winning streak Tuesday night with an 85-79 victory, the Utes' first in nearly a month.

The Utes (6-12, 1-4 Mountain West) shot 70.7 percent from the field and made 11 straight free throws in the final minutes to end a six-game losing streak - the school's longest since 1950.

Johnnie Bryant scored 18 points for the Utes and launched the ball straight up at the buzzer as the Utes celebrated their first victory since Dec. 20.

Air Force (17-2, 4-1) was tied with No. 2 Wisconsin for the longest winning streak in Division I, but the Falcons never led Tuesday night.

Jacob Burtschi had 21 points and Dan Nwaelele added 20 for the Falcons, who didn't have enough to overcome Utah's almost-perfect shooting. The Utes finished 29-for-41 from the field, including going 9-for-16 from 3-point range, and held off every rally Air Force could come up with.

After Nwaelele got the Falcons within 78-72 on a layup, Ricky Johns made two free throws with a minute left, then the Utes broke the press and got the ball to Nevill for a two-handed dunk that all but sealed it.

It was Air Force's first loss since Nov. 10, when Duke beat the Falcons 71-56. The winning streak was tied for the longest in school history.

Utah committed 13 turnovers in the first half, but compensated by going 13-for-19 from the field - 5-of-8 on 3-pointers - and holding the Falcons to 36 percent shooting. The Utes were even better in the second half, going 16-for-22.