BYU men's basketball: Cougars gut out victory

PROVO — It wasn't the typical BYU lineup that you'd expect to see on the court in the final minutes of a close and critical Mountain West Conference game.

No Jimmer Fredette. No Chris Miles. Tyler Haws only on offense.

But it worked.

By outscoring the UNLV Rebels 13-4 over the final four minutes, the Cougars improved to 15-1, and more importantly, open league play 1-0 with a 77-73 win Wednesday night at the Marriott Center.

"It was everything you thought an opener would be with two quality teams," Cougar coach Dave Rose said.

With Fredette, BYU's main scorer, showing obvious effects of a week-long battle with the flu and strep throat, Cougar reserves Michael Loyd Jr. and Jonathan Tavernari delivered some big shots and big defense plays down the stretch. Jackson Emery, who had a tough night shooting after missing a week of practice with an injured heel, came through with a back-breaking shot in the final seconds. Sophomore forward Noah Hartsock gave the Cougars a chance to win with a strong first half in which BYU shot a season-worst 27 percent.

"It's a team, and sometimes you just have to figure out a way to win and tonight they did," Rose said.

Trailing 69-66 with three minutes left, Loyd, playing the point while Fredette watched from the bench, drove around his defender on the right wing and banked in a running layup to cut UNLV's lead to one. Seconds later, Tavernari drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the game to give BYU a 71-69 lead.

"Tonight JT really, really helped our team ... I've said this a lot of times. He's really committed to helping this team win in any way he has to," Rose said.

But as the Rebels had done all night, they came right back with an answer and tied the game at 71 on two free throws by Tre'Von Willis. But when Loyd twisted around his defender once again and flipped in an off-balance scoop with 90 seconds on the clock, the Cougars never trailed again.

"It felt like it was going my way. Just one of those things," Loyd said.

It went Loyd's and BYU's way again on UNLV's ensuing possession when Loyd forced a turnover on an inbounds pass under the basket. The ball was intended for Willis out front, but Loyd tipped the ball and Willis then knocked it out of bounds.

"They ran that play earlier so I was kind of looking for it," Loyd said.