BYU basketball: Emery's effort lights a fire under Cougars

TULSA — Cougar sophomore Jackson Emery played only 19 minutes Tuesday and scored only five points.

But the energetic guard, who left the game with more than 18 minutes remaining — not to return — after a hard fall on the Reynolds Center court, had two of BYU's biggest plays. The first came late in the first half with Tulsa leading by eight and rolling along on a 12-1 run. Emery ended the streak when he drilled a tough 3-pointer from the right corner, which helped the Cougars trail by only four at intermission.

"That was a big basket," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "To break into that lead was really important ... it could have got away from us right there."

Then, less than two minutes into the second half, Emery really took one for the team. A missed Tulsa shot bounced high and out near the free-throw line. Emery jumped up and was the first to get a grip on the loose ball, but as he was coming down several others went after the ball and Tulsa's Ray Reese knocked Emery off balance. Emery landed on his back and his head slammed forcefully against the hardwood floor.

"When he fell he smacked his head really hard, and I saw blood and thought it was from his head, but thankfully it was from his elbow and that was good to see," teammate Jimmer Fredette said.

Emery lay motionless for several minutes as the concerned Cougars gathered around.

"At first I thought he was out cold, but then I saw his eyes move," co-captain Lee Cummard said.

Eventually, Emery stood and walked gingerly off the floor. Feeling a bit dazed and suffering from a bruised head and elbow, he did not return to the game, but BYU's medical staff said he suffered no long-term effects from the fall.

But even though Emery did not play again, Rose said his hustle on the play sparked the other Cougars.

"That was a huge play just by the fact that it woke up the rest of the guys," Rose said. "Jackson competes. We had a little discussion in the locker room about competing and then we have a guy who lays it out there, falls on his head, and I think the rest of the guys responded well to it."

Cummard said Emery's effort is exactly what the Cougars must have if they're going to be successful on the road and in games that have a conference-like feel to them. For sure, the play helped silence the Reynolds Center crowd and lit a fire under BYU's bench.

"On the road you have to play physical and play harder than the team you're playing or you're not going to be successful," Cummard said.

Freshman Charles Abouo, just as he did when Emery fouled out at Arizona State, filled in admirably. He scored only one point in 25 minutes, but pulled down six boards and grabbed one steal.

"I thought defensively he was terrific," Rose said of Abouo. "Any time we can get a guy to come off the bench and play multiple minutes in a situation like this, where it's tough and competitive, it helps your team grow up and that's good for us."

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