BYU basketball: BYU reserves key in CSU rout
"Make it so we get better throughout the game," he said.
In BYU's easier-than-expected 86-60 road win Saturday over Colorado State to open Mountain West Conference play, the Cougar reserves did exactly as asked. When foul trouble caused coach Dave Rose to call on his reserves late in the first half, the Cougars turned a close game into a laugher really fast.
"Everyone came in and played well and brought some energy, and that's what we're looking for," said MacGregor, who credited the increased confidence of BYU's bench to steady improvement in practices and games.
With the Cougars clinging to a slim 29-24 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half, starters Lee Cummard, Jackson Emery, Jonathan Tavernari and Chris Miles all sat down with two fouls each. With MacGregor, guard Lamont Morgan Jr., freshmen Charles Abouo and Noah Hartsock on the floor alongside starting guard Jimmer Fredette, BYU finished the half on a 17-6 run to begin the deflation of the Rams and take a 16-point halftime lead.
"I'm really pleased with how well we shared the ball in that situation," Rose said.
The Cougars' bench scored 16 points in the opening frame, most of which came in that final-minutes stretch, and added another 16 in the second half. The reserves might have played even better on the defensive end.
"That's where we get a lot of our points, especially fast-break points," Morgan said. "It just opens up a lot of things for our team."
The bench play also inspired the Cougar starters who watched their teammates blow the game open while resting on the Moby Arena's padded chairs.
"It kind of changed our mindset, and instead of playing for ourselves we started playing for each other and the team. ... I think we realized how many good looks we were going to get if we'd just take a step back and see what's available with those better looks," Cummard said.
With that inspiration, the Cougar starters came out with a 24-8 run to open the second half to widen the lead to 32 points. During that run, the Cougars shot an incredible 63 percent from the floor. The closest the Rams got again was 30, and BYU led at one point by 37.
"The biggest thing is when you don't perform well on offense against BYU they turn into the 1985 Lakers on you and run it right down your throat," CSU coach Tim Miles said.
"In transition they make 3s, they get to the rim, they're quick and fast, and they just gobble you up, and that's really what they did to us. We broke down on offense, and they made us pay on the other end."
Recent comments
To BYU is THE Class,
BYU has not won a Tourny Game in almost 20...
USU Grad | Jan. 14, 2009 at 9:41 a.m.
Utah football is king! It's true! BYU sports are the best in the...
BYU is THE Class of the MWC! | Jan. 13, 2009 at 5:55 p.m.
RE: Cosmo
So, by "1-21 in their last 21 games" you mean 1-21
in...
1-21 | Jan. 12, 2009 at 10:07 p.m.
- 'Hope' poster artist guilty of vandalism 9:51 p.m.
- Report disputes wiretapping 9:51 p.m.
- Tax rich for health care, Demos say 9:50 p.m.
- Parks nominee is in hot water 9:30 p.m.
- Burris bows out of 2010 race 9:30 p.m.
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- Facebook sued on control of content 9:15 p.m.
- Poor more likely to leave California 9:13 p.m.
- Montana guv blasts GM 9:11 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
133 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
73
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
For those of you that favor immigration, there are six and a half billion...
"U of U Student | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009 How about this current modern...
This was a very accurate article. We ought to know. Credit was fairly given...
It's NOT about what the people want, it's about what makes the media money.
The whole business of retiring a flag by burning it is superstitiousness at...
Wow, does this seem like 'deja vu' when the Jazz pulled the same thing to get...
People living OUTSIDE of the US have NO protection of the constitution, ...
is dollar for dollar.
Everybody keeps saying Millsap is or isn't worth 8 to 9 million dollars a...
Not to worry, before the hammer falls on CA the federal government will bail...



