LOGAN -- An Aggie homecourt advantage proved too much for the Cougars Friday night, with BYU (6-3) falling 91-80 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum against in-state rival Utah State (6-3, 0-1 WAC).
Two Aggie runs, a 13-2 run to start the game and 9-0 surge to begin the second half, proved the difference as BYU outscored Utah State 78-69 the rest of the way. Although the Cougars trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half, they cut the deficit to seven on two occasions, but ultimately could not recover from a slow start.
"We were always playing from behind," said BYU coach Dave Rose. "And that made us vulnerable."
The Aggies took a quick lead on BYU, outscoring the Cougars 13-2 in the first five minutes of the game. The Cougars clawed back, getting into foul trouble and sending USU to the line for bonus points with more than six minutes left in the half. USU led 47-32 at halftime and came out with a 9-0 run to start the second period.
Senior Brock Reichner stepped up by answering USU's run with back-to-back jumpers, including a three-pointer, to create momentum for the Cougars. Freshman Trent Plaisted also brought in his first bucket of the game early in the second half, after being kept to no baskets in the entire first half. Aggie defense held the Cougars to only 20 points in the paint on the game.
"I knew we were in for a tough game inside," said Rose. "We have younger guys and they were taught a tough lesson tonight, but it wasn't for a lack of effort on their part."
The Cougars came within seven points of the Aggies with less than six minutes in the second half, but could not hold on.
Reichner led the Cougars with a career-high 26 points, shooting 10-13 from the floor and 6-8 from the three-point line. Junior Rashaun Broadus followed closely, adding his career-high 21 points for the Cougars.
Coach Rose said he hopes to help his team learn to handle emotional pressure early in the game and create better starts coming back from the Christmas break. The Cougars will return to the Marriot Center to host Eastern Washington on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Brigham Young vs Utah State Aggies
12-22-05 7:07 pm at Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
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VISITORS: Brigham Young 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
15 MALAMAN, Fernando... f 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 4 4 0 4 1 0 2 0 20
23 BALDERSON, Jimmy.... f 0-2 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5
44 PLAISTED, Trent..... c 2-6 0-0 1-4 0 2 2 4 5 0 2 1 0 31
01 BROADUS, Rashaun.... g 7-11 3-6 4-6 0 1 1 2 21 8 4 0 2 31
11 REICHNER, Brock..... g 10-13 6-8 0-2 0 1 1 4 26 2 2 0 0 29
02 ROSE, Mike.......... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
03 YOUNG, Keena........ 2-6 0-0 2-3 3 6 9 3 6 0 2 2 0 20
04 EMERY, Jackson...... 3-8 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 2 8 0 0 0 0 12
13 AINGE, Austin....... 1-5 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 7 0 0 3 22
30 CUMMARD, Lee........ 2-6 0-2 4-5 5 2 7 2 8 1 2 0 0 18
43 DAWES, Derek........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 0 2 2 0 8
TEAM................ 3 1 4
Totals.............. 29-63 11-25 11-20 11 21 32 22 80 19 14 7 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-29 41.4% 2nd Half: 17-34 50.0% Game: 46.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-13 15.4% 2nd Half: 9-12 75.0% Game: 44.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 5-13 38.5% Game: 55.0% 6
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HOME TEAM: Utah State Aggies 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
04 Harris, Nate........ f 11-15 0-0 5-8 2 4 6 1 27 5 4 0 1 35
24 Peterson, Durrall... f 3-6 1-3 0-0 1 2 3 3 7 1 0 0 0 17
03 Matheus, Cass....... c 8-11 0-0 2-5 2 9 11 2 18 0 0 2 0 30
02 Pak, David.......... g 2-6 0-2 2-2 0 2 2 3 6 11 4 0 1 23
20 Carroll, Jaycee..... g 5-7 3-4 0-0 0 1 1 4 13 4 1 0 0 31
21 Session, Chris...... 4-7 0-0 1-2 3 6 9 3 9 3 2 0 1 23
23 Huber, Chris........ 1-2 1-2 1-2 0 0 0 3 4 3 0 0 1 26
30 Spicer, Chaz........ 2-6 0-0 3-3 0 1 1 1 7 0 1 0 0 15
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 36-60 5-11 14-22 8 26 34 20 91 27 12 2 4 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 19-30 63.3% 2nd Half: 17-30 56.7% Game: 60.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 1-5 20.0% Game: 45.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 9-13 69.2% Game: 63.6% 2,1
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Officials: Scott Thornley, Michael Irving, Eric Curry
Technical fouls: Brigham Young-None. Utah State Aggies-TEAM.
Attendance: 9251
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Brigham Young................. 32 48 - 80
Utah State Aggies............. 47 44 - 91
ID-363583
Points in the paint-BY 20,UTAHST 52. Points off turnovers-BY 15,UTAHST 19.
2nd chance points-BY 12,UTAHST 13. Fast break points-BY 0,UTAHST 0.
Bench points-BY 24,UTAHST 20. Score tied-0 times. Lead changes-0 times.