A lot on the line as outcome is crucial for both teams

PROVO -- Plenty rides on tonight's home finale for the BYU basketball team as the Cougars take on Utah.

To wit:

The conference: Tied for second place in the Mountain West Conference standings with two games remaining, tonight's winner between BYU (18-7 overall, 8-4) and Utah (20-7, 8-4) will not only break the tie for second in the conference standings but retain a slim hope of catching front-runner Air Force for a share of the league crown.

The MWC tournament: Besides placement in the final regular-season standings, the two teams are playing for seeding in next week's conference tournament, although both seem to be on a collision course to meet again in the semifinals.

The NCCAs: Should the Mountain West get only two -- and not three - - invitations to the NCAA Tournament, tonight's winner would have the inside track and late-season

momentum to merit a berth.

The homecourt: While the Cougars have won 61 of their last 62 games at the Marriott Center, they would like nothing better than to beat the team that last defeated them at home. Utah's 79-75 victory in Provo last season snapped BYU's nation-best 44-game home win streak.

The rematch: BYU certainly hopes to atone for its shortcomings earlier this season against Utah, where the Cougars blew a 17-point lead early in the second half and fell 65-56 to the host Utes in Salt Lake City.

The rivalry: Oh, by the way, these two schools don't care for each other, do they?

About the only thing tonight's matchup is missing is an MWC championship among the victor's spoils.

In the mind of BYU head coach Steve Cleveland, tonight's contest will likely earn the attention of members of the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

"If Utah swept us during the regular season, and they are looking at determining one of the two teams as being a candidate for the NCAAs, certainly that would be the No. 1 criteria," said Cleveland, mindful that other selection factors include how a team has fared its last 10 games, the strength of its schedule and its RPI ratings.

"The last 10 games -- how you played -- is I think the most important criteria after head-to-head competition," he added.

After the aforementioned Jan. 31 loss in the Huntsman Center, BYU reeled off six straight victories in the month of February, including a 67-61 victory over MWC-leading Air Force a week ago. But that defeat to the Utes still lingers, with 21-point outings by Nick Jacobson and Andrew Bogut leading the furious U. comeback.

"I think defensively we were solid for 20 to 25 minutes, and then we did a very poor job guarding the post," Cleveland said. "Nick Jacobson earned his shots. He just beat us with great play. He was contested, and he made shots."

Leading the Utes was interim head coach Kerry Rupp, who had just taken over after head coach Rick Majerus cited health concerns in stepping down. It was Rupp's second victory over BYU in as many tries -- he filled in for an absent Majerus last season when Utah posted its streak-snapping victory in Provo.

Said Cleveland: "I know we're capable of playing with them and competing, but we need to prove that we can beat them, and we haven't done that in a year and a half. I guess that's our challenge."

Utah (20-7, 8-4) vs.

BYU (18-7, 8-4)

Tonight, 10 p.m.

at the Marriott Center (22,700)

TV: ESPN

Radio: KSL 1160-AM,

KALL 700-AM

E-mail: taylor@desnews.com

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