LARAMIE -- BYU improved its overall record to 25-3, the most wins through 28 games in Cougar history and the fourth-straight season with 25 wins or more, defeating Wyoming 85-63 on Saturday.
With the win, the head coach Dave Rose and the Cougars have won at least 25 games in four-straight seasons, the longest such streak in program history. The Cougars won 25 in 2008-09, 27 in 2007-08, and 25 in 2006-07. Previous to the streak, BYU had five 25-win seasons in the previous 58 years of the modern era.
"There have been great teams, great coaches and great players at BYU," said BYU head coach Dave Rose. "Tradition is something we really, really sell, especially when we recruit players. Year in and year out BYU basketball has been as competitive as anybody in college basketball."
A member of the team the last four years, senior Jonathan Tavernari became the winningest Cougar ever, playing in his 98th win to pass Lee Cummard's previous record of 97 wins.
"When you look at guys like Danny Ainge, [Kresimir] Cosic, Mike Smith, Andy Toolson and to know that I won more games than they did, it feels wonderful," Tavernari said. "Not that it means I feel better them, but because those guys were winners. They are remembered because they're winners. It ranks way above the three-point record and the steals. It's all about winning and winning as a team."
Tavernari scored 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting, adding eight rebounds, two steals and two assists.
The senior forward was a spark off the bench, at one point scoring seven-straight points for BYU over four minutes in the second half.
"JT was terrific tonight," Rose said. "I think that his all-around floor game and shot selection and ability to pass the ball to guys in position to score were terrific."
Tyler Haws and Jimmer Fredette each contributed 22 points for the Cougars as BYU never trailed after jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game.
BYU led 40-28 at halftime, but Wyoming cut the lead to as few as seven points. But Tavernari knocked down a three-pointer and assisted Charles Abouo on a dunk on a fast break, starting a 16-3 run.
The Cougars had another run, this time of 11 unanswered points, capped by a trey by Fredette that pushed BYU up 75-54.
BYU scored 12 points off of 12 turnovers by the Cowboys while only giving up the ball six times. The Cougars also held a 19-7 margin on second-chance points, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to Wyoming's five and 43-31 on the glass overall.
BYU will return home to play San Diego State on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The Cougars' final home game of the season next Saturday versus New Mexico is already sold out, so click here for the last available tickets of the season.
CLICK HERE for game notes and quotes.
Official Basketball Box Score
#16/14 BYU Cougars vs Wyoming Cowboys
2-20-10 4:02 PM at Laramie, Wyo. (Arena-Auditorium)
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VISITORS: #16/14 BYU Cougars 25-3 (10-2 MWC)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
34 HARTSOCK, Noah...... f 1-4 0-1 0-0 2 1 3 4 2 2 0 1 1 18
54 MILES, Chris........ c 2-3 0-0 1-2 1 4 5 4 5 1 0 0 0 18
04 EMERY, Jackson...... g 3-7 1-4 3-5 0 5 5 1 10 2 0 0 1 31
23 HAWS, Tyler......... g 6-15 0-2 10-10 2 6 8 1 22 2 1 0 1 33
32 FREDETTE, Jimmer.... g 7-14 3-6 5-5 0 1 1 1 22 4 1 0 0 36
00 DAVIES, Brandon..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 6
01 ABOUO, Charles...... 2-5 0-2 0-0 2 0 2 2 4 1 2 0 1 12
10 LOYD, JR., Michael.. 0-1 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 7
12 MAGNUSSON, Logan.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
13 ZYLSTRA, Brock...... 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
15 ANDERSON, James..... 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 4
45 TAVERNARI, Jonathan. 7-12 3-7 0-0 0 8 8 2 17 2 1 0 2 33
TEAM................ 4 2 6 1
Totals.............. 29-66 7-22 20-24 13 30 43 19 85 17 6 1 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-39 41.0% 2nd Half: 13-27 48.1% Game: 43.9% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-13 30.8% 2nd Half: 3-9 33.3% Game: 31.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 16-17 94.1% Game: 83.3% 2
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HOME TEAM: Wyoming Cowboys 9-18 (2-11 MWC)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
25 THIAM, Djibril...... f 4-7 0-0 4-4 1 6 7 1 12 2 2 1 0 30
15 WADDELL, Adam....... c 4-10 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 3 8 1 1 1 0 26
01 LUSTER, JayDee...... g 1-3 0-1 1-2 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 0 0 27
02 BOUEDO, Arthur...... g 0-4 0-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 1 3 0 1 26
03 JACKSON, Desmar..... g 9-18 4-5 4-6 0 4 4 4 26 0 2 1 0 31
05 DERMODY, Ryan....... 2-5 1-4 0-1 0 4 4 3 5 1 1 0 0 28
22 M'BAYE, Amath....... 2-5 1-1 3-4 1 2 3 3 8 1 1 1 0 21
32 WATSABAUGH, Rob..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
33 SYLLA, Boubacar..... 0-2 0-0 1-2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
35 HARRISON, Daylen.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 7
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 22-54 6-14 13-19 5 26 31 18 63 12 12 4 1 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-27 40.7% 2nd Half: 11-27 40.7% Game: 40.7% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-7 28.6% 2nd Half: 4-7 57.1% Game: 42.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-8 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-11 81.8% Game: 68.4% 3
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Officials: Verne Harris, Bobby Vetkoetter and K.C. Ely
Technical fouls: #16/14 BYU Cougars-None. Wyoming Cowboys-None.
Attendance: 5154
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
#16/14 BYU Cougars............ 40 45 - 85
Wyoming Cowboys............... 28 35 - 63
Points in the paint-BY 26,WY 24. Points off turnovers-BY 12,WY 5.
2nd chance points-BY 19,WY 7. Fast break points-BY 2,WY 0.
Bench points-BY 24,WY 14. Score tied-0 times. Lead changed-0 times.
Last FG-BY 2nd-00:21, WY 2nd-02:34.
Largest lead-BY by 22 2nd-03:48, WY None.