BYU at UNLV
Feb. 5, 2005
Postgame Notes
- Jimmy Balderson scored a career-high 23 points against the Rebels, including three free throws with 5.6 seconds left to give BYU the lead. Balderson also set a new career high in rebounds with 7.
- BYU went on a 9-2 run to end regulation and then outscored the Rebels 10-2 to begin overtime, eventually outscoring UNLV 19-9 in overtime.
- Austin Ainge scored 12 points in overtime and finished with 19 in the game.
- The Cougars scored on every possession in overtime until the final possession when they allowed the clock to wind down.
- With the victory, BYU snapped a three-game losing streak on the road.
- The overtime win was just the second overtime game played between the two teams. BYU also won the first overtime game, 92-90, at UNLV on Jan. 3, 1981, the first meeting of the series.
- BYU is now 1-0 on the season in overtime games and 4-6 overall in overtime under head coach Steve Cleveland.
- Mike Hall tied his career high with 5 steals.
- The win marks the first time this season that BYU has come away victorious after trailing at halftime (1-9) and trailing at the five-minute mark (1-12).
- The Cougars are now 4-1 when scoring more than 80 points.
- BYU recorded its first Saturday win with the victory (1-7).
- UNLV blocked 8 Cougars shots, the most allowed by BYU this season.
BYU Head Coach Steve Cleveland
"This was a special evening. There were a lot of times in the second half that they had control but Hall came up with a few big steals and we made our free throws and pulled through. In the past, it's those little things that we've haven't been able to do at the end that have hurt us, but we did it tonight."
"This group has had to overcome a lot. They could've easily gone away, especially when UNLV scored that basket at the end of regulation. But they refused to lose."
"It's experiences like this that you never forget. We'll look back and remember this as the time that this basketball team really dug in and refused to quit. No one here is going to quit. We have a chance to get better."
"To win on the road like this is something special. It's always great to win at home but a road win is so much better."
"You have to have turning points in the season. Hopefully, this was one for us. I don't know how many more basketball games we're going to win but we're going to go out and compete and play to win every game. This team has made a giant step forward after some very difficult losses."
"There's lots that we still have to play for. You judge a team by how they play at the end, down the stretch. If we can go to San Diego State and find a way to win there, we'll have even more momentum and confidence. Anybody can win the MWC Tournament. That's what we're playing for - for the Tournament and for the future of this program. Let's just keep getting better and control what we can control."