This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Los Angeles • Well, the Utes' couldn't blame the atmosphere.
Playing in front of a sparse crowd of 4,434 at the aged Los Angeles Sports Arena, a temporary home for UCLA that has all the charm of a rabbit habitat, the Utes added to their road woes with a 76-49 loss.
Dating back to Chris Hines' 3-pointer that beat New Mexico at The Pit last February, the Utes have lost 12 games away from the Huntsman Center, and 10 in this, the first season in the Pac-12.
Hines led the Utes with 13 points, but acknowledged afterward that the fact the Utes have not only gone winless on the road, but not even been close save for at Stanford, is starting to take a mental toll on the rebuilding team.
But his only answers to how the Utes can solve the trend didn't sound like much of a solution.
Just more discouraged words from a disappointed player on a disastrous team.
"Just gotta keep fighting," he said. "Keep on pushing."
The Utes' road losing streak dates back to their time in the Mountain West. It dates back to the Jim Boylen Era. It includes games played on an island, games in a gambling town and games to teams with hyphens in their names.
This season, all but one is by double figures.
"We didn't come out and play the same way we do at home," Utah center Jason Washburn said.
What bright spots the Utes have had this season have indeed come at home. They pulled off unexpected Pac-12 wins against Washington State and Arizona State at the Huntsman Center.
Away from home, though, the Pac-12 is as challenging as a Sunday crossword puzzle.
After Thursday, there's four down.
If the Utes will win a road game this season or at least save their losing streak from having a birthday, it will likely have to come at USC on Saturday.
The Trojans (5-16, 0-8) are one of few teams in the Pac-12 that have been worse, or arguably as bad, than the Utes. Their most recent home loss came Thursday, just a mile from the Sports Arena, where they lost by 24 points to Colorado.
The Trojans' home drought, however, isn't as bad as the Utes' road streak. USC won at home on Dec. 19.
Twitter: @oramb