Thankfully, the Utes are finally getting back into the free-throw rhythm that had so abandoned them during their rough three-game losing streak earlier this season.

You remember, right?

The Utes had been shooting some 80 percent from the line over a 10-game stretch, only to melt down and hit only 18 of 33 free throws in consecutive losses to San Diego State, Brigham Young and New Mexico. But in their last four games -- three of them wins -- they have hit 64 of 84 foul shots for a solid 76.2 percent.

"The thing that helped us" in the 81-73 win over UNLV "was making our foul shots," center Luke Nevill said.

And nobody was more relieved than Luka Drca.

The backup guard had made only 3 of 8 foul shots since the slump began last month, and had helped kill the Utes in their three straight losses by missing the front end of one-on-one opportunities during crunch time in each one.

But against the Rebels, he stepped up and made four straight in the final 34 seconds, part of a 10-for-10 stretch in the last two minutes that allowed the Utes to hang on for the win. The Utes made a season-high 23 of 28 free throws in the game.

"Luka takes so long to shoot his foul shot that you kind of get antsy about it," Nevill acknowledged with a chuckle. "But he knocked them down when they counted, and it was good for him."