SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- After five weeks on the sidelines, Hanno Mottola scored 16 points to lead Utah (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today, unranked AP) in an 84-58 victory over Chicago State on Saturday.

Mottola had been out since tearing a ligament in his left knee during a Nov. 9 exhibition loss to the California All-Stars. But the senior forward came back strong, scoring six points in the opening six minutes.

Despite a six-minute scoreless stretch, Chicago State (2-4) stayed close early in the game by making all five first-half attempts from the 3-point line.

But the Utes (7-2) closed the half up 44-33.

And while the football Utes eked out a victory in the Las Vegas Bowl, Utah pushed forward for their 41st-straight home win on the basketball court. That gives the Utes the second-longest home streak in the country, after Murray State with 46 homecourt victories.

Jeremy Killion scored 13 points for the Utes and Phil Cullen had 12, all in the first half. Alex Jensen added 11 points and nabbed 9 rebounds.

Tim Bryant paced the Cougars with 14 points and Tony Johns scored 12.