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Show < CO 12 LU C/) < CD WAC crown lost by a point Keeping with the precedent set by the Ute football team, losing the WAC title by an inch, the Runnin' Redskins lost their chances at the WAC championship by losing in the season finale to El Paso by one point. The Utes began the season in their new sports arena with an unimpressive win over Stanford. At that time observers saw ample talent, but a real effort would be needed to transform it into a working unit. After losing to Utah State and Denver, Utah entered its own Utah Classic Tournament with a 3-2 record. John Hunter was added to the starting five, giving the team needed stability to take wins from both San Francisco and Michigan State and win the Classic. The Redskins won twelve of the next fourteen games, beginning with Michigan's defeat 117 to 102 and, in WAC play, downing BYU 82-76. Victories over Arizona and Arizona State on their own courts, coupled with the "Y" victory, gave the Utes enough impetus to control the conference midway through the season. After two more wins at home, against UTEP (66-61) and New Mexico (99-73), the Redskins crossed the Rockies to be ambushed by the Cowboys of Wyoming 85-98, and were beaten soundly by the Colorado State Rams. Utah shot only 42% from the field against both teams, although Mike Newlin scored 36 points in the Colorado State game, his high for the season. The league championship still within reach, Utah came back to the Wig-Wam to wipe Arizona 92-75 and overcome Arizona State 107-93, and again dominated the conference lead. A loss to Colorado State 69-83 the following week dropped Utah into second place. In a dazzling exhibition of professional quality basketball Utah shot 56.5% from the field to defeat Wyoming in the last home game of the season. The final score of 113 to 82 came within two points of equaling the WAC record for points scored in 117 |