Coach Jim Boylen acknowledged the other day that while his Utah Utes have worked hard to reach the top of the Mountain West Conference in just his second season, the view from there is pretty good.

Until you inspect the route home, anyway.

With just two weeks and four games standing between them and the end of the regular season, the Utes face a finishing stretch that could scarcely provide a more daunting challenge to their hopes of winning a championship.

Starting tonight against the two-time defending tournament champion UNLV Rebels at the Huntsman Center, the Utes face three straight teams -- two of them on the road -- that trail them only slightly in the standings and could steal the title with a strong stretch run. Boylen already has called it a "gauntlet" through which his team must pass.

"We know everybody's coming out, and they're gunning for us," guard Lawrence Borha said. "We have to be ready to take everybody's best shot, and I think we are ready."

Better be.

Otherwise, the promising season might take a decided turn for the worse at just the wrong time.

The 19-7 Utes are riding a seven-game winning streak -- nine in a row, at home -- and poised to earn an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament should they fail to win the league tournament and the automatic invitation that comes with it. At 10-2 in league play, they also have a two-game lead over their closest rivals in the league standings, with just those four games left to play.

But they will be challenged not only by UNLV but also by Brigham Young and New Mexico on the road before a home finale against TCU. The Rebels, Cougars and Lobos are a combined 57-23 on the season, and locked within a half-game of one another behind the Utes. Any of them (or even San Diego State) could still win the league title if the Utes falter.

"There's always pressure when you're on top," center Luke Nevill said. "Everybody's chasing after you. We're just going to kind of take it one game at a time, but we have to win our home games. Those are crucial for us."

It might be all the Utes need.

Claiming victories over just UNLV and TCU would leave the Utes at 12-4 in league play, meaning that either the Cougars, Lobos or Aztecs would have to win out just to force a tiebreaker. The Lobos appear the most dangerous threat to do that, with only games at Colorado State and Wyoming remaining, in addition to their home game against the Utes next week that could give them the tiebreaking edge for the title.

In any case, the Utes are trying not to look too far ahead, though Nevill acknowledged some consideration of the final stretch.

"To throw out a number there, we typically want to win three out of the four," he said. "I think two might get us in there, but we can't go with 'mights.' We have to be confident."

The Utes have not lost since the last time they played the Rebels, wilting after halftime and losing 75-65 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas after blowing a 12-point first-half lead. Boylen is hoping his Utes can show more toughness and resiliency than they did back then, and perhaps put themselves in position to assure an NCAA Tournament berth no matter what happens at the league tournament next month.

"This is a big game, no matter what the records are, because I think it's kind of a rivalry game, in a way," he said. "But also, with what's at stake for both of us, it becomes a big, big game."

mcl@sltrib.com