If you don't want to play the Aztecs' way, they'll force you to.

After a slow start against Utah in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament, the 7th-ranked Aztecs put out a full-court press to force turnovers and pick up the tempo. Using a 22-5 run to end the first half, the Aztecs (30-2) cruised to the semifinals with a 64-50 victory at the Thomas and Mack Center on the UNLV campus.

"I thought we played exceptional defense," said Aztecs head coach Steve Fisher. "Especially in the first 30 minutes."

Despite a distinct size advantage with 7' 3" center David Foster, the Utes went into a 2-3 zone defense that slowed the Aztecs up-tempo offense to a glacial pace. The Aztecs attempted just two three-point shots through the first 12 minutes of the first half, then James Rahon and Kawhi Leonard dropped in back-to-back threes to give the Aztecs a 20-12 lead and get the offense flowing.

Aztecs coach Steve Fisher then called for a full-court press and the Aztecs turned that into more points. Chase Tapley and D.J. Gay each made a three pointer and after Gay came away with a steal, Billy White finished the fast break with a two-handed slam dunk, giving the Aztecs a 30-15 lead at halftime.

"Coach Fisher came to us and said, 'We want to put a little more pressure on them,'" said White, a Las Vegas native. "We started trapping full court. I think that's where we started getting our runs."

The Aztecs forced 11 turnovers (five steals) in the first half and finished with a season high 20 forced turnovers. They also limited the Utes to 30.4 percent shooting from the field and scored 13 points off turnovers in the first half.

In the second half, the Aztecs kept up the heat and forced more turnovers, creating open three pointers for freshman Jamaal Franklin and an emphatic alley-oop dunk from Tapley to Malcolm Thomas for a 46-25 lead.

"We just wanted to turn the pressure up," Thomas said. "We were rushing a few shots, so we just wanted to get it on the other end."

Leonard led the Aztecs with 13 points and 12 rebounds, his 39th career double-double. Thomas added 13 points and 10 rebounds and White had 11 points and nine rebounds.

All nine Aztecs who played scored at least two points in a very balanced attack. They also shared the ball well, making 24 baskets on 18 assists. The Aztecs out-rebounded the Utes 42-30 while beating them in the Mountain West Conference tournament for the first time.

With an eye on playing three games in three days, Coach Fisher substituted early and often, giving rest to his starters in the first half. Franklin received early minutes as did Brian Carlwell and Tim Shelton.

"Franklin should campaign for more playing time," Fisher said.

The Aztecs rabid fan base "The Show" was put in the upper deck and in the corner of the Thomas and Mack Center. Still, they managed to be heard throughout the game. Their chants included "show no mercy" when the Aztecs built a 15-point lead, "that was stupid" when a Utah player threw the ball off the bottom of the backboard, and "he's a freshman" after Franklin made his third 3-pointer of the game.

Before the game, the Aztecs held a pep rally for fans and alumni. Hundreds of fans showed up for snacks and drinks and cheered with the cheer squad, sang along with the band, and chanted "I believe that we will win" along with the Aztec Warrior mascot.