It's hardly a mystery that the Utes started to wobble this season when starting point guard Luka Drca was hurt, then suspended. So it was a relief to finally have him back in the starting lineup for a 60-52 victory at UC Irvine on Saturday night.

"Everyone wants to talk about his offense, and his contribution there," coach Jim Boylen said. "But that's never been the issue with me. It's been the defense -- a big guy, who takes pride in his defense. Length, toughness, and you see what it does."

The Utes held the Anteaters without a basket for 10 minutes of the second half, and ultimately kept them to just 35 percent shooting -- something they had not done since winning at Missouri State a month ago during their five-game winning streak.

In fact, the Utes have held teams to just 37 percent shooting in the games in which Drca has played, while allowing 43 percent shooting when the junior has not been on the floor -- including most of the previous five games, which included four losses.

And though offense is not Boylen's top concern, Drca delivered it, anyway, against the Anteaters. He scored 12 points, handed out four assists, grabbed two rebounds and committed just one turnover in 27 minutes. With that kind of production, freshman Jace Tavita can probably expect a lot more four-minute nights until next season.

Better still, Drca came through in the clutch by making four straight free throws in the final 80 seconds, after UCI had cut the lead to six points. That was huge for a player who missed crucial one-and-one free-throw opportunities last season in losses to New Mexico and San Diego State.

"He's been in those situations a few times where we can win the game -- up four, up five -- and he missed those," Boylen recalled. "Today, he made them. That was a big step for him."