Cougars looking to extend hot start against Hartford

PROVO — The Cougars host Hartford tonight in the Marriott Center in the second round of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational.

The Cougars (3-0) and Hartford (1-3) tipoff at 7:35 p.m.. The game will be televised live on KBYU-TV. The game will be the second half of a doubleheader with BYU women playing Hartford women at 4:30 p.m.

The Cougar men are working to extend a 33-game win streak at home, the second-longest active home win streak in the country. After tonight's game the Cougars leave for Las Vegas and a Friday matchup against No. 6 Louisville.

Hartford comes to Provo with a win over Sacred Heart and losses at St. Grancis, Quinniplac and Louisville, the latter coming in the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Louisville slapped Hartford 104-69.

Sophomore Hartford guard Joe Zeglinski leads Hartford with a 14- point average. Transfer Warren McLendon is averaging 14 for the Hawks. Other starters include 6-5 Michael Turner, 6-6 Anthony Minor and 6-1 Rich Baker.

The Cougars are fresh off an opening round 100-61 win over Jackson State. In that game, junior center Trent Plaisted led the Cougars with 21 points and freshman Michael Loyd came off the bench and scored a career- high 15 to lead BYU in a game where reserves saw plenty of action.

Although the Cougars haven't faced tough competition to date, the 3-0 start is the best since 2002-03 when BYU went 5-0 before losing at Creighton. The Cougars are dominating in the three games played so far, posting an average 33-point margin of victory against Long Beach State, Idaho State and Jackson State.

Plasited leads the Cougars with a 16.7 average per game.

Cougars on the air

Hartford (1-3) at BYU (3-0)

Today: 7:30 p.m.

Marriott Center

TV: KBYU

Radio: 1160AM/102.7FM

---

E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com