BYU basketball: BYU reserves key in CSU rout

FORT COLLINS — BYU backup center Gavin MacGregor knows exactly what's expected each game from the Cougar bench — besides giving the starters a rest.

"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.