Game 18 - BYU at Utah in Deseret Duel Rivalry

BYU at Instate Rival Utah

No. 11/10 BYU basketball will look to add to its 2-0 start in MWC play when the Cougars play at instate rival Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m. MT. BYU is 16-1 overall and has won six-straight games, including a win at UNLV and a home win against Air Force last week to open MWC action. Jimmer Fredette averaged 30.5 points in the two victories last week and is averaging 24.9 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting .474 from the field, .391 from three and .885 from the free throw line. Utah is 7-9 overall and has lost its last six games, including 77-69 at Air Force and 71-62 at home against San Diego State. Will Clyburn leads Utah in scoring and rebounding at 18.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and shoots .442 from three. Josh Watkins adds 14.6 points and 3.3 assists while Jay Watkins contributes 8.7 points and 4.8 boards per contest. Tuesday’s game can be heard live on KSL Newsradio beginning with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. MT on 102.7 FM and 1160 AM out of Salt Lake City or via the Internet at KSL.com. The game will be televised live on The Mtn.

Up Next

No. 11/10 BYU will host TCU on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. MT in the Marriott Center. Live stats and audio links will be available on www.byucougars.com and fans can listen live on the radio beginning with the pregame show at 7 p.m. MT on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM out of Salt Lake City. The game will be televised live on The Mtn.

Cougar Quick Hits

— No. 11/10 BYU head coach Dave Rose is 143-41 in his six seasons at BYU and is the program’s all-time leader in winning percentage at .777 and third in wins.

— The Cougars were ranked in the AP Preseason Poll for the first time since the 1980-81 season and are currently ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 10 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

— Jimmer Fredette has been named to eight preseason All-America teams and is a Wooden Award midseason candidate and a preseason candidate for the Naismith Trophy and the Cousy Award. Fredette is averaging 24.9 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season.

— Senior guard Jackson Emery is second on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game and adds 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-best 2.8 steals per game. He has posted four-plus steals seven times this season. Brandon Davies is third on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game on .562 shooting. He has scored in double figures 11 times this season, including eight of the last nine games

— At 16-1, BYU has matched last season’s record through 17 games, the second-best 17-game record in program history.

BYU GAME #18 FAST FACTS

No. 11/10 BYU (16-1, 2-0) at Utah (7-9, 0-2)

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011

Huntsman Center

Salt Lake City

6:30 p.m. MT

Coaches

BYU, Dave Rose (143-41 in sixth season at BYU; same overall)

Utah, Jim Boylen (63-51 in fourth season at Utah; same overall)

Series

Series tied 125-125, including a 2-0 BYU sweep last season

Radio

KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM/1160 AM) and the Cougar Sports Network (Greg Wrubell, play-by-play; Mark Durrant, game analysis)

TV

The Mtn. (James Bates, play-by-play; Blaine Fowler, game analysis)

Web

Live audio and live stats links are available on the men’s basketball schedule page at www.byucougars.com/basketball_m/

Looking at Utah

2010-11 Record: 7-9, 0-2

Conference: Mountain West

2009-10 Record: 14-17, 7-9 (T-5th)

2010 Postseason: None

Highlights:

- Utah is 7-9 overall and 0-2 in MWC play. The Utes opened the season at 6-2 including wins over Grand Canyon, Montana, Weber State, Fresno State, Bradley and Pepperdine. Utah is 6-2 at home, 1-5 on the road and 0-2 at neutral sites.

- Will Clyburn leads Utah averaging 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He is shooting .462 from the field, .442 from three and .775 from the free throw line. Josh Watkins is second on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game and adds a team-best 3.3 assists per game. Jay Watkins and Chris Kupets add 8.7 and 7.9 points per game, respectively.

- Utah averages 70.4 points and shoots .431 from the field, .322 from three and .709 from the free throw line. Utah allows 71.1 points per game and its opponents shoot .431 from the field and .322 from three.

Coach: Jim Boylen (Fourth season at Air Force)

Utah’s Last Outing — Utah falls to San Diego State 71-62

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, D.J. Gay hit four 3-pointers in the second half, and No. 6 San Diego State survived a scare from Utah to win 71-62 Saturday and remain undefeated.

The Utes, who came in on a five-game losing streak, led 34-33 at halftime thanks to Will Clyburn’s 14 points.

But then Gay, who was making his 100th career start despite a leg injury, found his shot. His back-to-back 3-pointers capped a 13-5 run to open the second half that gave the Aztecs a 46-39 lead.

After Utah pulled within 57-56 on a layup by J.J. O’Brien with 8:45 left, Gay fueled a 10-0 run with two more 3-pointers to extend San Diego State’s lead to 67-56.

The win improved San Diego State to 17-0 (2-0 Mountain West Conference), while Utah fell to 7-9 (0-2).

Josh Watkins led Utah with 24 points and Clyburn added 17.

Gay finished with 18 and Malcolm Thomas added 17 for the Aztecs, who for the first time have beaten Utah in three straight meetings. Saturday’s win also marked the first time San Diego State has ever won two in a row in Salt Lake City.

The Aztecs own the nation’s second-longest winning streak, behind Duke. They also are one of seven undefeated teams in the nation. Duke, Ohio State, Kansas and Cincinnati play Sunday, while Syracuse stayed unbeaten with a win Saturday over Seton Hall, and Central Florida was at Houston later Saturday.

Saturday’s game was the beginning of a challenging stretch for San Diego State. The Aztecs play 25th-ranked UNLV on Wednesday, then face New Mexico on Jan. 15 in the Pit, where the Lobos have won 15 straight.

They’ll face 15th-ranked BYU on the road Jan. 26.

Gay struggled in the first half on 1-of-5 shooting. But he finished 4 of 10 from beyond the arc and 6 of 15 overall.

Series Notes

The all-time series between BYU and Utah is tied at 125-125. The Cougars swept last season’s two meetings 82-69 in Provo and 71-51 in Salt Lake City. The Cougars have won seven of the last eight meetings overall and three of four at the Huntsman Center. BYU is 70-47 in Provo against Utah and 49-73 in Salt Lake.

Record Watch

Field Goals

1. Danny Ainge (1977-81) - 987

2. Michael Smith (1983-84, 86-89) - 886

3. Devin Durrant (1978-80, 82-84) - 832

4. Jeff Chatman (1984-88) - 751

5. Fred Roberts (1987-82) - 687

6. Russell Larson (1991-95) - 660

7. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 635

Three-Point Field Goals

1. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) - 265

2. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 224

3. Mark Bigelow (1998-99, 01-04) - 213

4. Jackson Emery (2005-06, 08-present) - 180

5. Mike Rose (2003-07) - 163

6. Lee Cummard (2005-09) - 153

7. Andy Toolson (1984-85, 87-90) - 141

Three-Point Field Goal Attempts

1. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) - 698

2. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 572

3. Mark Bigelow (1998-99, 01-04) - 559

4. Jackson Emery (2005-06, 08-present) - 460

5. Mike Rose (2003-07) - 381

Free Throws

5. Danny Ainge (1977-81) - 493

6. Fred Roberts (1978-82) - 467

7. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 460

Free Throw Percentage

1. Tyler Haws (2009-10) - .917

2. Michael Smith (1983-84, 86-89) - .878

3. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - .876

Assists

3. Nathan Call (1986-88, 90-92) - 528

4. Marty Haws (1986-90) - 502

5. Randy Reid (1992-96) - 458

6. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 428

7. Scott Runia (1976-80) - 405

Steals

T-1. Danny Ainge (1977-81) - 195

T-1. Jackson Emery (2005-06, 08-present) - 195

3. Marty Haws (1986-90) - 182

4. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) - 165

T-5. Scott Sinek (1981-85) - 140

T-5. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 140

7. Nathan Call (1986-88, 90-92) - 138

8. Russell Larson (1991-95) - 131

9. Lee Cummard (2005-09) - 129

Points

1. Danny Ainge (1977-81) - 2467

2. Michael Smith (1983-84, 86-89) - 2319

3. Devin Durrant (1978-80, 82-84) - 2285

4. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 1954

5. Russell Larson (1991-95) - 1885

Wins Played in

1. Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10) - 103

2. Lee Cummard (2005-09) - 97

3. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 96

4. Russell Larson (1991-95) - 94

T-5. Chris Miles (2004-05, 07-10) - 90

T-5. Mark Durrant (1989-90, 92-95) - 90

T-5. Shane Knight (1991-95) - 90

T-5. Jackson Emery (2005-06, 08-present) - 90

30-Point Games

T-1. Michael Smith (1983-84, 86-89) - 17

T-1. Devin Durrant (1978-80, 82-84) - 17

T-3. Danny Ainge (1977-81) - 12

T-3. Jimmer Fredette (2007-present) - 12