Utah Claims Share Of MWC Regular Season Title

Saturday, March 4

Salt Lake City

7:00 PM MT

University of Utah

Air Force

3/4/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball

March 4, 2000

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Alex Jensen played in a home game and Utah won.

What else is new?

The 6-7 senior became the first four-year player in school history to go undefeated on Utah's home court, the Huntsman Center. Jensen scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out seven assists before leaving to a standing ovation with 8:13 left in the Utes' 86-63 win over Air Force Saturday.

"It's been a dream come true to win every home game," said Jensen, who along with Magic Johnson, is only the second player to record a triple double in the Huntsman Center. "It's been really special and I consider myself lucky."

Jensen's 59-0 record began in his freshman season (1994-95) with 15 straight wins before he left on a two-year Mormon church mission. Since returning, he has been a part of the last 44 victories in the Utes' nation leading 52-game home winning streak.

"Al Jensen has given everything he had to this team his entire career. He is the finest defender to play here in my tenure and the greatest competitor," said Utah coach Rick Majerus.

Against the Falcons, Jensen was called on to bring the ball upcourt when the Ute point guards had trouble against the press. He also guarded the Falcons' leading scorer Jarvis Croff and held him scoreless in the first half.

Hanno Mottola scored 19 points for the Utes (21-7), who have won eight straight against Air Force (8-19) and 15 of their last 16 meetings.

"There are a lot of good memories of this place. It's been a long four years in some ways, but I'll never forget my time at Utah," Mottola said.

Despite playing with torn ligaments in his left elbow and right thumb, Mottola made 7-of-11 shots and grabbed five rebounds in front of his parents who flew from his native Helsinki, Finland to see him play.

Utah's last home loss was December 31, 1996 to Wake Forest.

UNLV, which defeated New Mexico 80-67 Saturday, is the other MWC co-champ and first seed in the conference tournament next week by way of a tiebreaker.

The title marked the sixth straight regular season championship for the Utes who won the last five crowns as members of Western Athletic Conference.

The Utes, who never trailed after the game's first basket and led by as many as 33 points, rebounded from back-to-back losses to Wyoming and Colorado State, their first two-game losing streak since the Maui Classic in 1994.

Seniors Tony Harvey (13 points), Jeremy Killion (12) and Alex Jensen (11) all scored in double figures in their final home contest. Jensen also had 7 rebounds and seven assists. Junior Nate Althoff chipped in 11 points. "I was happy for the seniors. They all played well," Majerus said.

Tyron Wright led the Falcons with 18 points and Miguel Garcia added 10.