BYU men's basketball: Cougars bounce back strong, defeat San Diego (+video highlights)

"They're really good because of what he does and the way he shoots the ball," Zylstra said of Dee. "That was a big emphasis at the beginning of the game, not to let him get going. It was good until about four minutes left in the half."

BYU fell behind 8-3 in the opening minutes, but a 23-5 run in first half turned a 10-5 deficit into a 28-15 lead with 8:17 left.

The Cougars led by as many as 19 points, 39-20, before Dee scored his flurry of points to make it 43-31 for the Cougars at halftime.

In the second half, BYU kept the Toreros at bay. The Cougars weren't about to let San Diego back in the game, like they allowed Saint Mary's to do.

"This was an emotional game," Rose said, "after an emotional loss."

And maybe BYU has that case of Dellavedova-itis out of its system.

The Cougars visit No. 8 Gonzaga next Thursday.

NOTES: Two BYU football players who are returning for their senior seasons, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and wide receiver Cody Hoffman, were honored at halftime. Van Noy carried the Poinsettia Bowl trophy and addressed the crowd. "Beat Utah," Van Noy told fans … Carlino scored in double-figures for the sixth consecutive game … Zylstra tied his career-high with six assists … Nate Austin grabbed a season-high nine rebounds … The Cougars outscored San Diego in the paint, 32-18.

Email: jeffc@desnews.com