Fired-up Fredette sets tone for BYU

PROVO — Gotta love these rivalry games.

Just when BYU's expected double-digit beat-down of Utah ran its script, Saturday's first edition of the rivalry on the court this season turned into a battle zone. Literally.

Credit BYU for etching out an impressive 82-69 victory with Jimmer Fredette putting on a show worthy of his marquee lights with 36 points. But credit Jim Boylen's Utes for unleashing a furious physical comeback that, in a few dramatic minutes, had all the makings of a big time threat for the Cougars.

BYU up by 18? Did it early, slick as an oiled machine. But Utah showed plenty of guts and moxie in the Marriott Center in a comeback that fell short.

The night finished with some decent heat with Ute freshman Marshall Henderson likely facing a one-game suspension for taking a no-look power flick at the face of BYU's Jackson Emery with half a minute to play in the game.

As intense as that Henderson/Emery deal was, the buildup to that end was better.

The Cougars carved out an impressive halftime lead of 44-30. But Utah was the aggressor coming out of the locker room at the half.

Because Utah's intensity had so transformed this game, BYU had to answer and Dave Rose's team struggled to do so as the Utes ripped off a 15-4 run at the 12:23 mark then cut it to four with just over seven minutes to play.

Here's when Fredette kicked in. Whatever virus coarse through this kid's body the past month got body slammed at the cellular level in the final minutes of this game.

Utah sent Jace Tevita to hound Fredette. You know, body up on him and apply pressure just after half court. He did a great job. But Tevita fired up the Cougar junior. Fredette found another gear.

After one spin move led to a circus field goal in the key by Fredette after he shook off Tevita, the normally fairly sedate Fredette screamed, "There is no way! There is no way!" as he retreated on defense, looking directly at Tevita.

A mad Fredette is a dangerous Fredette.

At that stage of the game, I thought the Cougar star wasted too many trying to force it inside. At one point he had all three of BYU's turnovers in a game in which the Cougars had just six for the game.

But something erupted inside the guy in the final five minutes of BYU's win.