BYU basketball: Cougars' offense hot, but defense is key

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 10:15 p.m. MST
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The Horned Frogs wanted to take away BYU's transition offense. Instead, the Cougars scored their first basket on a fast-break layup by Cummard, who finished with a game-high 22 points. Overall, it was another solid offensive outing by the Cougars, who shot 50 percent in the first half and 48 percent for the game, with 18 assists to only five turnovers. Behind Cummard in scoring was Jonathan Tavernari with 14, while Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery chipped in 11 each.

In that first half the Horned Frogs never scored on more than two straight possessions, while the Cougars had three big scoring runs. They led 14-4 after a 7-0 run, 22-10 after an 8-0 run, and finished the half on 10-1 run...

When Cummard banked in a layup early in the second half, the Cougars led 46-22. For the next 10 minutes the teams exchanged baskets. Still, when Tavernari dropped one in at the 10-minute mark the Cougars still had a 23-point lead.

But that's when the Cougars started fouling, the Horned Frogs began crashing the boards, and TCU's Kevin Langford, who suddenly was catching the ball deeper on the block, went on an 8-0 tear.

"He kind of taught us a lesson in that second half," Rose said.

In a span of four minutes the Cougars hadn't scored a point and TCU had quickly cut the lead to 62-49 on a Zvonko Buljan 3-pointer. Fortunately for BYU, Cummard took matters into his own hands with 12 second-half points, and the closest the Horned Frogs could get was 12.

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"Every time we've played them in the past I've always come away saying 'I'm glad that's over.' They always play really hard and they're really skilled and athletic, and they just got after it," Cummard said.

But Cummard said BYU's effort was just a notch higher, and that was the difference in the game.

"I think for the most part, we just got after it," he said.

NOTES: Following the game Tavernari, in front of some lingering Cougar fans at the Marriott Center, made a marriage proposal to South Jordan's Kiri Redford, who accepted to the cheer of those who stuck around. "He's a very public figure. He likes to be in the public," Rose said of his junior co-captain ... Cummard passed two more Cougars (Alan Taylor and Dick Nemelka) on the BYU's career scoring list. Now with 1,317 points, Cummard owns the 17th spot.


E-mail: jimr@desnews.com

Recent comments

This is our year baby!! My prediction: final four!

BYU Athletic Supporter | Jan. 15, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.

You want respect? How about a 6 seed in Joe Lunardi's bracket with a...

Respect? | Jan. 14, 2009 at 10:07 p.m.

Hey, Coolio, take your "1-21" comment to another board. You don't...

DieHardCougar | Jan. 14, 2009 at 9:58 p.m.

Image

BYU forward Lee Cummard, right, collides with TCU guard Ronnie Moss during men's college basketball action at the Marriott Center in Provo Tuesday. The Cougars beat the Horned Frogs 73-61.

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