Game 30 - Cougar Look to Clinch a Share of Title on Wednesday

Cougars Look to Clinch a Share of MWC Title on Wednesday vs. Lobos

No. 3/3 BYU basketball will look to avenge its only conference loss of the season and clinch a share of the MWC regular season title on Wednesday, March 2, against New Mexico at 8 p.m. MT in the Marriott Center. The Cougars, 27-2 overall, won 80-67 at then-No. 6/4 San Diego State on Saturday to take a one-game lead in the league standings at 13-1. Jimmer Fredette, the nation’s leading scorer (27.3 points per game), led BYU with 25 points and nine assists while Charles Abouo added 18 points and nine boards vs. San Diego State. Jackson Emery adds 12.6 points and 2.8 steals per game and Brandon Davies contributes 11.1 points per game. New Mexico enters Wednesday’s contest at 18-11 overall and 6-8 in the MWC. The Loboos are coming off an 80-70 win at TCU. Dairese Gary, who leads the Lobos in scoring (14.5 points per game) and assists (5.5 per game) scored 32 points in the win. Drew Gordon adds 12.5 points per game and a team-best 10.3 boards and Kendall Williams (11.0 ppg) and Phillip McDonald (10.6 ppg) also average double-figure point totals. Wednesday’s game can be heard live on KSL Newsradio beginning with the pregame show at 7 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. 3/3 BYU will host Wyoming on Saturday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. MT. 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 12:30 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. 3/3 BYU head coach Dave Rose is 154-42 in his six seasons at BYU and is the program’s all-time leader in winning percentage at .786. He is second all-time in wins behind Stan Watts, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

— In MWC action, Jimmer Fredette is averaging 30.8 points, 3.7 threes and 4.3 assists while shooting .438 from the field, .452 from three and .898 from the free throw line.

— Jimmer Fredette was named to eight preseason All-America teams and is a Cousy Award finalist and a Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy midseason candidate. Fredette leads the nation in scoring at 27.3 points per game and adds 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

— Senior guard Jackson Emery is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game and adds 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a team-best 2.8 steals per game. He has posted four-plus steals 11 times this season and is the program’s all-time leader in career steals. Brandon Davies is third on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game on .525 shooting. He has scored in double figures 20 times this season.

— At 27-2, BYU has the best 29-game record in program history.

BYU GAME #30 FAST FACTS

No. 3/3 BYU (27-2, 13-1) vs. New Mexico (18-11, 6-8)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Marriott Center

Provo, Utah

8 p.m. MT

Coaches

BYU, Dave Rose (154-42 in sixth season at BYU; same overall)

New Mexico, Steve Alford (94-37 in fourth season at New Mexico; 402-220 in 20th season overall)

Series

BYU leads 74-54, with New Mexico winning 86-77 in Albuquerque earlier this 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. (Rich Cellini, play-by-play; Dave Bollwinkel, 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 New Mexico

2010-11 Record: 18-11, 6-8

Conference: Mountain West

2009-10 Record: 30-5, 14-2 (1st)

2010 Postseason: NCAA Second Round

Highlights:

- New Mexico is 18-11 overall and 6-8 in Mountain West Conference play. The Lobos are coming off an 80-70 win at TCU. Prior to the win the Lobos had streaks of four-straight wins and then four-straight losses.

- Dairese Gary leads the Lobos with 14.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. He shoots .504 from the field, .364 from three and .789 from the free throw line. Phillip McDonald adds 10.6 points per game, Drew Gordon contributes 11.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and Kendall Williams averages 11.0 points per game and shoots .429 from three.

- New Mexico averages 73.6 points and shoots .465 from the field and .345 from three. Lobo opponents average 65.7 points and shoot .417 from the field against New Mexico.

Coach: Steve Alford (4th season at New Mexico)

New Mexico’s Last Outing — Gary leads New Mexico to 80-70 win over TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)—Dairese Gary had 32 points and nine assists as New Mexico defeated TCU 80-70 on Saturday night.

A.J. Hardeman added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lobos (18-11, 6-8 Mountain West), who snapped a four-game losing streak.

TCU (10-20, 1-14), which has lost 12 straight, was led by Amric Fields and Nikola Cerina with 17 points each. Hank Thorns added 11 points and 12 assists.

The Horned Frogs scored the first 10 points of the second half to take a 39-36 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Greg Hill.

TCU was still ahead 50-46 with 11:05 remaining when New Mexico’s Phillip McDonald hit a 3-pointer to start a 9-0 run for the Lobos. Gary scored the final four points of the run, giving New Mexico a 55-50 lead with 9:13 left, and the Lobos extended the lead to as many as 15 points down the stretch.

Series Notes

BYU leads the all-time series against New Mexico 74-54. The Cougars are 7-4 against the Lobos under Dave Rose.

CLICK HERE to see where Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery rank in the BYU and Mountain West Conference record books.