Utes make decisive run without Nevill
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Three players scored 13 points apiece to lead Utah over Missouri State 71-58 on Friday.
Luke Nevill, Carlon Brown and Tyler Kepkay scored 13 each for the Utes (4-1), who went ahead for good early in the second half and made 10 straight free throws to close out the victory.
Nevill, the Utes' 7-foot-2-inch center, played 24 minutes but sat for almost eight minutes in the second half after being assessed a technical foul with 17:48 remaining and Missouri State leading 33-31.
But Utah went on a 15-5 run without Nevill and led 46-36 when he returned with 9:53 to play. The Bears never got closer than eight after that.
The Utes blew an 11-point first-half lead and trailed 27-26 at halftime.
Missouri State (2-2) was led by Spencer Laurie with 18 points and Chris Cook with 11. The Bears struggled from the floor, shooting 34 percent to Utah's 55 percent.
• San Diego State 75, Seattle 56 -- At Anchorage, Alaska, Kyle Spain scored 15 points and centers Ryan Amoroso and Mehdi Cheriet combined for 24 as the Aztecs (4-1) beat the Redhawks (4-2) to reach the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Amoroso had 13 points and Cheriet scored 11 off the bench for San Diego State.
The Aztecs will play Hampton (3-2) tonight for the tournament title.
