No. 9 BYU, Miami face-off on Thanksgiving Day in Orlando

PROVO, Utah - No. 9 BYU gets things underway at Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational on Thursday, Nov. 27, when the Cougars face Miami in Kissimmee, Fla. Tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET at State Farm Field House. 

WHERE TO WATCH
Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN with Rich Hollenberg and Fran Fraschilla on the call. 

ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE
Thursday will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs and first since a 107-86 setback for the Cougars in Coral Gables on Feb. 4, 1989. The all-time series is tied 2-2 with each team winning both games on their home court. 

In a game that featured 43 fouls and 63 free throws, Andy Toolson was one of three Cougars to score in double figures, finishing with 25 points. Miami's Eric Brown had a game-high 31 points for the Hurricanes, going 13-of-19 from the free-throw line to go along with eight rebounds, three blocks and three assists. 

 

GOT THE UPGRADE, A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR COMFORT
Prior to Friday's 28-point victory over No. 23 Wisconsin, BYU's last three ranked wins were by a combined nine points, including a two-point victory over Wisconsin in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament last March.

Friday's victory is also tied for the third-largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history. In fact, two of the three largest margins of victory over a ranked foe have coming Young's tenure in Provo. 

IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG, I DON'T WANT TO BE (W)RIGHT
Robert Wright III dished out a season-high 11 assists in Friday's win over No. 23 Wisconsin, marking the second time in his young career with 10 or more dimes. It was also the most assists by a Cougar against ranked opponent since the beginning of the 1996 season. 

Wright III is now one of three players in program history with 10 or more assists against a ranked opponent, joining the NCAA triple-double king Kyle Collinsworth and Austin Ainge, president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz.

FINDING THEIR RANGE
The Cougars knocked down a season-high 14 3-pointers against No. 23 Wisconsin, two more than they hit in their comeback victory over Delaware. With that performance, BYU improved to 21-3 under Kevin Young when knocking down 10 or more 3-pointers, while also winning 35 of their last 41 games with double digit triples. The Cougars also put up a season-high 34 attempts from behind the arc. 

 

SECOND HALF SURGE
With 53 points in the second half in the win over No. 23 Wisconsin, BYU has now scored 50-plus in the second half in three straight games after only doing it six times in 36 games during Young's first season at the helm. 

It marks the first time since November/December 2014 that the Cougars have scored 50-plus in three consecutive second halves. They had 58 against Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 29), 60 at Utah State (Dec. 2) and 53 against Hawaii (Dec. 6) at Delta Center.

ONE LAST NUGGET
The Cougars have won five straight games against ACC schools, not including a 78-76 victory over No. 25 North Carolina in an exhibition in October. Their last three wins have come at MTEs, including defeating NC State in each of the previous two seasons (Vegas Showdown, Rady Childrenís Invitational).