PROVO -- Despite scoring just three field goals in the entire second half, BYU turned up the defensive effort--recording three blocked shots in the final two minutes of play--to preserve a 58-52 victory over Southern Utah Thursday at the Marriott Center. With the win, the Cougars remain undefeated at home (4-0) and improve to 5-2 on the season. The loss drops the Thunderbirds to 6-3.
On offense, the Cougars were unable to get into any kind of rhythm against the pressure of Southern Utah's matchup zone. BYU was just 10-31 shooting on the night, tying an all-time low for field goals made set back in 1980 in a game against Wyoming. The Cougars struggled from the three point line as well, shooting just 25 percent (3-12) for the game. Terrell Lyday lead all scorers with a season-high 24 points, including 12-16 free throws. Eric Nielsen contributed a season high 15, going 7-8 from the line.
But to make up for their offensive struggles, BYU managed to make 46 trips to the foul line, falling just one attempt short of a Marriott Center record. The Cougars converted 35 free throws, including 25-34 in the second half, to keep themselves in the game.
"Tonight's game was a good example of an in-state contest," said BYU coach Steve Cleveland. "It had everything."
The two teams were whistled for 49 fouls, and three players fouled out of the game. Southern Utah lost backup center Chris Wallin with seven and a half minutes to play, and starting center John Wheeler, who was plagued with foul trouble the entire game, left with 5:15 to go in the game. Still, BYU was unable to take advantage of the size difference against the Thunderbird defense.
"You have to give credit to Southern Utah for their tenacious pressure and defense," Cleveland said. "We also contributed to that ourselves."
After taking a five-point lead into the locker room at halftime, BYU opened the margin up to as much as 12 points late in the second half. But Southern Utah hung around, and went on a 9-0 run to close to within three, 52-49, with just 3:12 left in the game.
But BYU blocked three consecutive shots in a 40-second span, and converted five of eight free throws in the final minute of play to hold on for the win.
The Cougars will host another in-state rivalry this weekend, squaring off against Utah State Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the Marriott Center.
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Southern Utah University vs Brigham Young University
12/14/00 7:05 at Provo, Utah
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VISITORS: Southern Utah University 6-3
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
21 HOUSE, Frederick.... f 6-24 0-4 3-4 6 2 8 4 15 2 2 0 3 34
33 BEUS, Dan........... f 3-8 1-4 0-0 2 9 11 0 7 0 4 0 2 36
44 WHEELER, John....... c 4-5 0-0 2-2 1 0 1 5 10 1 0 1 0 16
22 SANT, Justin........ g 3-7 1-4 2-4 1 2 3 3 9 1 2 0 0 33
32 MONACO, Jeff........ g 2-9 1-5 4-4 1 2 3 4 9 5 6 0 2 37
12 BAKER, Jason........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 2
23 JOHNSON, Stan....... 0-1 0-0 2-4 2 1 3 2 2 0 0 0 1 12
30 CHANDLER, B.J....... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 0 16
35 DORENBOSCH, Jeff.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
40 WALLIN, Chris....... 0-2 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 5 0 0 0 0 1 13
TEAM................ 4 4
Totals.............. 18-57 3-17 13-18 19 19 38 29 52 9 19 1 9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-25 .360 2nd Half: 9-32 .281 Game: .316 DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-10 .100 2nd Half: 2-7 .286 Game: .176 REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 1.000 2nd Half: 11-16 .688 Game: .722 2
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young University 5-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 WESLEY, Mekeli...... f 0-2 0-0 5-6 1 8 9 3 5 1 4 2 0 31
25 NIELSEN, Eric....... f 4-7 0-0 7-8 2 2 4 2 15 0 4 0 0 35
42 COOPER, Nathan...... f 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 18
24 LYDAY, Terrell...... g 5-10 2-6 12-16 1 3 4 2 24 0 4 2 0 39
31 MONTAGUE,Matt....... g 0-3 0-2 4-6 0 3 3 1 4 3 2 0 5 34
02 HANSEN, Travis...... 1-6 1-3 5-6 2 2 4 5 8 1 2 0 0 22
20 BOBIK, Daniel....... 0-1 0-1 0-2 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 9
34 CHRISMAN, Jacob..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
43 DAWES, Derek........ 0-0 0-0 2-2 1 2 3 1 2 0 1 1 0 7
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 10-31 3-12 35-46 8 23 31 20 58 6 20 5 7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 7-20 .350 2nd Half: 3-11 .273 Game: .323 DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-8 .250 2nd Half: 1-4 .250 Game: .250 REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half: 10-12 .833 2nd Half: 25-34 .735 Game: .761 5
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Officials: Tom O'Neill, Lonnie Dixon, Mark Whitehead
Technical fouls: Southern Utah University-MONACO, Jeff; BENCH. Brigham Young
University-HANSEN, Travis.
Attendance: 7023
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Southern Utah University...... 21 31 - 52
Brigham Young University...... 26 32 - 58