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Utes, David Collette shoot for Northwest road sweep with a win at Washington State on Saturday night

(Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes forward David Collette (13) drives the lane during the Utah Utes versus Arizona State Sound Devils at the Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City Sunday January 7, 2018.

Pullman, Wash. • Whether a text message, a talk on the side away from the rest of the team or perhaps even just a look from coach to senior — Utes men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak has found a way to push the right buttons of late with David Collette.

As Collette nears the end of his collegiate career, he has strung together performances as efficient and crucial as at any point of his career. He scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 19 minutes Thursday as Utah went into American Airlines Arena and beat Washington.

The win extended Utah’s win streak to three games and put it one game behind UCLA and USC for second place in the Pac-12. UCLA and USC visit the Huntsman Center for consecutive showdowns next week. First the Utes and their big man in the post with must tackle Washington State at 8 p.m. MT Saturday night in Pullman, Wash.

Collette, a 6-foot-10 senior forward who isn’t flashy or jump-out-of-the-building athletic, will go into that game having averaged 17.7 points on 88-percent shooting from the field (and 7-of-9 on free throws) in the past three games.

“I’m seeing a senior with a lot of pride and focus,” Krystkowiak said. “It hasn’t been easy the whole run. I think he’s had some ups and downs. We’ve had some discussions and some text conversations about this is a time to go for it. Quit thinking so much. He’s playing with a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and doing what a senior should do.”

Collette, who suffered an abdominal/hip injury right before the start of conference play, has been a steady low-post force for the Utes. While junior Sedrick Barefield has worked through struggles this season moving off the ball to accommodate graduate transfer Justin Bibbins and Donnie Tillman has hit freshman season peaks and valleys, Collette has largely been that reliable presence the Utes can either count on or play through offensively along with Bibbins on the perimeter.

Collette, who has averaged 13 points per game and shot 62 percent from the field in 24 games this season, also allows senior forward Tyler Rawson to roam in the soft area of zone defense as well as knock down shots from the perimeter. After playing just six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble on Thursday night, Collette bounced back in the second half with 16 points. Rawson scored nine of his 15 after halftime on his way to a double-double.

“I think it started with [a sense of urgency because I’m a senior], but at this point its just having fun and playing,” Collette said of his recent run of stellar offensive games. “I think I’ve been a little uptight in a few games this year where I haven’t performed as well as I can. I think I’ve finally just relaxed, having fun and enjoying it.”

The Utes will have their final three regular-season games at home following Saturday night’s clash with the Cougars. That coupled with the Utes being in the middle of the race for a bye in the Pac-12 conference tournament should give Collette and fellow seniors plenty of motivation.

If not, there’s always Krystkowiak’s prodding.

“He’s just really good sending me some messages of encouragement and, you know, finishing out,” Collette said of Krystkowiak. “[He’s] just reminding me that it’s coming to an end. Being a senior, it’s time to lead our guys and push forward.”

UTAH AT WASHINGTON STATE<br> Tipoff • Saturday, 8 p.m. MT<br> TV • ESPN2<br> Radio • 700 AM<br> Records • Utah 16-9, 8-6, Washington State 10-15, 2-11<br> Series history • Utah leads 22-4<br> About the Utes • Five players scored 10 points or more in Thursday night’s win at Washington. Along with David Collette’s 22-point game, Tyler Rawson (15 points, 10 rebounds), Justin Bibbins (10 points), Sedrick Barefield (10 points) and Parker Van Dyke (10 points) were also in double digits. … The Utes lead the conference in scoring defense (68.7 points per game) and rank second in 3-point shooting percentage defense (33.8 percent).<br> About the Cougars • Washington State snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 73-69 win over Colorado on Thursday night. Sophomore guard Malachi Flynn, a resident of Tacoma, Wash., scored a game-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting in that win. … The Utes have held each of their past three opponents to 60 points or less. Washington State ranks fifth in NCAA Div. I and first in the Pac-12 in made 3-pointers per game (11.1). They’ve made 12 or more 3-pointers in 14 games this season.