BYU at New Mexico
Feb. 19, 2005
Postgame Notes
Jared Jensen went 9-of-10 from the floor to score 20 points in 21 minutes of play, despite missing practice this week with the flu and not feeling 100 percent on Saturday.
Mike Hall scored 19 points to reach double figures in a team-leading 21 games this season. Hall hit 6-of-12 shots and added a team-leading three steals.
BYU outrebounded the Lobos 25-22. BYU is now 5-7 this year when winning the battle of the glass.
BYU shot 55.1 percent from the floor, the highest percentage made by the Cougars in Mountain West play this season.
BYU lost for the first time this year when topping 50 percent shooting. The Cougars are now 4-1 when making at least half of their field goal attempts.
New Mexico's 62 percent shooting from the floor and 68.4 percent from three-point range were both the highest percentages made against the Cougars this season, topping, respectively, Utah (.619) and Washington State (.526).
BYU falls to 0-16 this season when being outshot by its opponent. BYU is 9-1 when it has managed the upper hand in shooting numbers.
New Mexico's 91 points is the most scored against the Cougars this season. UNM scored 51 points in the first half to take a 19-point lead. The Lobos and Cougars played even in the second half with both teams scoring 40 points. The last time BYU allowed more than 50 points in a half was Dec. 23, 2003 at Utah State when the Aggies scored 51 points.
With Jimmy Balderson still suffering with an ankle injury, seldom-used junior guard Brock Reichner started the second half and logged 17 quality minutes, scoring four points while adding one rebound, one assist and one steal. Balderson played 13 minutes on the night.
BYU entered Saturday's game with eight scholarship players available due to injuries. The Cougars did not have a power forward available with Keena Young (hand) and Garner Meads (leg) both out of action. Six-foot-11 freshman forward/center Chris Miles started at power forward and made a solid contribution, going 2-for-2 from the floor, scoring 5 points and tying a career-best 3 assists, while having to defend UNM's 6-foot-8 versatile star Danny Granger.
With the loss, BYU now leads the series against New Mexico 67-49.
Postgame Quotes
BYU coach Steve Cleveland
"New Mexico played and shot the ball very well tonight. With how they played, we couldn't have beaten them no matter how well we shot."
"Jared was just exhausted after the game. He missed practice this week with the flu. He helped us be more efficient offensively with his play inside. He did a very nice job tonight."
"I give Chris Miles credit. He was put in a difficult position with Keena (Young) and Garner (Meads) not able to play. (Danny) Granger is a mismatch for him. Chris also hit his two shots and did some nice things."