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GAME NOTES: A couple of teams tied for fifth place in the Mountain West Conference standings clash at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, as the Utah Runnin' Utes entertain the Colorado State Rams.

Utah, which is currently a game under .500 overall on the season and just 3-4 in league play, is trying to snap a two-game slide tonight after taking a tumble against in-state rival and nationally-ranked BYU on Saturday in an 82-69 decision in Provo. The Utes are trying to avoid their second three-game slide of the season after dropping consecutive decisions to Oklahoma, Illinois State and Pepperdine in the middle of December.

As for the Rams, they've had some issues the last few weeks during their MWC outings, losing four of the last five. On Saturday, the team hosted San Diego State and dropped a 64-52 final at Moby Arena.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, not only do the Utes own a 100-42 advantage, but they are also 54-15 at home in the series with three straight victories in this building.

CSU shot just 2-of-15 behind the three-point line and also hurt itself with 14-of-23 accuracy at the charity stripe in the loss to San Diego State over the weekend in Fort Collins. Andy Ogide tried to keep the team competitive with his 6-of-9 shooting from the floor for his team-best 13 points, while Travis Franklin tacked on 10 points and seven rebounds, but was also charged with eight turnovers while handing out only a single assist. Dorian Green, who shot just 2-of-9 from the floor and finished with nine points as he played all 40 minutes, is credited with a team-best 13.0 ppg this season, even though he is shooting a miserable 34.4 percent from the field. Ogide (11.3 ppg) and Franklin (11.0 ppg) are both shooting at least 53 percent from the floor and are pulling down 5.6 rpg overall on the season, but in seven conference games Franklin's scoring has dipped to 9.0 rpg and his free-throw shooting down to a dismal 39.6 percent.

Through the first 20 minutes of action against the Cougars over the weekend, Utah hurt itself with just 1-of-8 shooting behind the three-point line and was never able to fully recover. Nevertheless, Jay Watkins still had a strong game for the squad with his 18 points and game-high 11 rebounds, while Marshall Henderson contributed 16 points in spite of his mere 5-of-15 shooting from the floor and 2-of-9 beyond the arc. Over the course of seven conference games this season, Henderson is the leading scorer for the Utes with his 13.9 ppg, but for tonight he will not be a factor because he has been suspended for a game after his actions in the BYU outing. With him watching from the sidelines that means Carlon Brown (13.4 ppg) is back in the starting lineup and will have more opportunities to improve upon his 41.4 percent shooting beyond the arc and 21 assists in seven MWC tests. In league play Utah has held opponents to just 41.7 percent shooting from the floor and 26.8 percent out on the perimeter, but with the loss of Henderson tonight those numbers might not stand up.

It is not uncommon for a team to come together when one of their own has been sent to the sidelines for one reason or another, so expect that to be the case for the Utes tonight as they defend their home floor.