BYU basketball: Post players solid for BYU against CSU

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Twenty points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Those are the kind of numbers that BYU coach Dave Rose likes to see from his post players. Those are the numbers that center Chris Miles and power forward Noah Hartsock combined to put up Wednesday against the Colorado State Rams.

"That's a pretty good night for us," Rose said.

Hartsock's 12 points and 12 rebounds made for his first double-double of his career.

"I knew coming into this game that rebounding was a big emphasis for us," Hartsock said.

And his 10 defensive rebounds had a lot to do with BYU controlling the second-half tempo in the Cougars' 92-70 win.

"That's a good way for us to play, if we can get missed shots and get the rebound and get out and go," Rose said.

Hartsock was also 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and 3 of 4 from the field. Every one of his baskets came when BYU needed an answer to a Colorado State score.

"We have such great scorers that I don't like to force a lot of things, but when I get the advantage and the opportunity, I like to take advantage of that and go to the bucket and help out my team that way," Hartsock said.

While Miles' numbers might not look as impressive, his contribution in the paint in other ways was felt by both teams.

"He anchored that zone for us," Rose said. "He gave a lot of help on the baseline, and he takes up a lot of space, which allows other guys, Jax (Jackson Emery) and Noah, to go get rebounds. He was very big for us tonight."

Like Hartsock, every one of Miles' four baskets came at a critical time and answered a bucket by Colorado State on the other end. Miles also didn't miss a shot.

"A lot of times the way that he runs and gets to the rim, he doesn't get the points, but it leads to points," Rose said.

Overall, the Cougars outrebounded the Rams 39-29, and allowed Colorado State only seven second-chance points — numbers that surprised the Rams in their post-game analysis.

"That wasn't one of the things we were worried about going into the game," Rams center Andy Ogide said.