Y. gets final tune-up against Tulsa tonight

PROVO — In its final non-conference contest before heading into Mountain West Conference play next week, BYU hosts Tulsa tonight at 7.

The Cougars (7-3) rebounded from a loss at Utah State to record a solid 97-66 victory over Eastern Washington on Tuesday. BYU travels to Air Force (11-1) for its conference-opener Jan. 5.

What first-year coach Dave Rose is looking for as his team heads into league play is consistency, from start to finish. BYU played that way against Eastern Washington and he hopes to see more of the same against Tulsa (4-6) of Conference USA.

"What we want is for all players to play at the highest level," Rose said. "We're trying to develop consistent play from this group. It has to do with the way other teams prepare and how we perform. It has to do about our attitude when we come out. The biggest thing to learn about a team is getting everyone on the same page. The strength of the team is in the team itself. You can tell a lot about the makeup of a group with how they come out and play after they've had a setback."

Brock Reichner, the Cougars' lone senior, has been consistent this season. Reichner scored 12 points in his last outing after pouring in a career-high 26 against Utah State. Reichner leads BYU in 3-point shooting, having knocked down 17-of-34 attempts from beyond the arc.

"Brock's been one of our most consistent players," said Rose, who is Reichner's father-in-law. "He's earned a lot of time because of his defense. He's tough and he's hit big shots. He's good in the post and he's one of our better guards in the post when we get the ball down there."

After spending most of last season as a role player, Reichner has stepped up big. He has started the last nine games at the shooting-guard position and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game.

Tonight's opponent, the Golden Hurricane, returns five letterwinners from a team that posted a 9-20 record a year ago. Like BYU, Tulsa has a new coach, Doug Wojcik. Wojcik took over the program after helping lead Michigan State to the Final Four last March.

The two teams have played one common opponent — Lamar. The Hurricane lost to the Cardinals on the road, 86-78. The Cougars downed Lamar at the Delta Center, 97-74. Tulsa averages 64 points per game and shoots 44 percent from the floor.

Three Tulsa starters average double figures — guard Brett McDade (12.6 ppg), forward Anthony Price (11.2) and forward Charles Ramsdell (10.6).

"It's going to be a really different kind of game (than the one against Eastern Washington)," Rose said. "It's going to be a grind-it-out, half-court game with a lot of set plays. They're very strong and a tough defensive team with big bodies. It will be a different test for us."

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Cougars on the air

BYU (7-3) vs. Tulsa (4-6)

Friday, 7 p.m.

Marriott Center

TV: None

Radio: KSL 1160 AM

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com