Utah to play rival BYU in basketball again in 2017

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah will play rival BYU in basketball again in 2017 in a game that will end a ''cooling off period'' Utah demanded due to events at recent games.

Utah said in a news release Thursday that the two schools have agreed to play in 2017 at BYU. The school's athletic directors are talking about scheduling future games.

The decision to cancel the rivalry upset BYU and ignited a controversy that lit up sports talk radio and triggered legislators to order a state audit of Utah athletics. The game had been played every year since 1909 except for during World War II.

Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said in January that the rivalry had become a ''venomous and toxic environment.'' BYU guard Nick Emery was ejected from December's game for punching Utah's Brandon Taylor.