Weber State University Athletics
BYU Holds Off Weber State, 72-66, Tuesday Night in Ogden
12/22/2010 4:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BYU Holds Off Weber State, 72-66, Tuesday Night in Ogden
Dec. 21, 2010
Box Score (HTML)/PDF | Post-Game Video Interviews | WSU Season Stats (HTML)/PDF
OGDEN, Utah -- BYU's Jimmer Fredette scored 20 of his game high 28 points in the second half, leading the Cougars to a hard fought 72-66 win over Weber State, Tuesday night before crowd of 10,453 inside WSU's Dee Events Center. Both teams found baskets few, and sometimes far between, as both teams dug in on the defensive end. Weber State held the Cougars to just 26-67 (.373) shooting from the field, but the Cougars limited the Wildcats to just 22-58 (.379). Both teams had 41 rebounds, both teams had 11 assists, but the key were the turnovers. WSU had 16 while the Cougars committed just nine. |
It looked like the Cougars were on their way to another big blow out, jumping out to a 33-16 lead on a three-pointer by Fredette at the 4:37 mark. But the 'Cats, more specifically, Lindsey Hughey, fashioned a 7-2 scoring run in those final minutes, pulling WSU to within 12 at half times, 35-23. Hughey scored all seven points.
Weber State made several runs at the Cougars in the second half. The 'Cats closed to within five at 58-53 on a three-pointer by Kyle Bullinger with 7:43 remaining, BYU's Chris Collingsworth made three of four free throws, putting the Cougars back up 61-53 at the 5:20 mark, then made it 64-55 on a big three by Kyle Collingsworth (4:14).
A jumper by Byron Fulton and an off-balanced three-pointer from Scott Bamforth, brought the Wildcats back to within four at 64-60 and had the fans inside the Dee Events Center on their feet.
Jimmer Fredette then took matters into his own hands with a driving lay up for two and drawing a foul from Trevor Morris. Fredette made the free throw to make it 67-60 at 2:43. Bamforth drained another long three-pointer just four seconds later, to make it a four-game again, but a bucket by Noah Hartsock quieted the crowd with a basket at 2:12.
The 'Cats got to within four (70-66) with 12 seconds left on a basket by Kyle Bullinger, but Fredette iced the game with two free throws after being fouled on the inbounds pass for the final six point margin.
BYU's only other double figure scorer was sophomore forward Brandon Davies who had 10 points and eight rebounds. The Cougars move to 11-1 overall this season and have now won eight straight over the Wildcats.
Scott Bamforth led the Wildcats with 17 points, hitting 5-9 from beyond the three point arc. Lindsey Hughey scored 15. Kyle Bullinger posted his first career "double/double, scoring 12 points and hauling in a career-high 13 rebounds - 12 of them on the defensive end. Darin Mahoney had a career high five blocked shots and a career high three steals.
Weber State is now 6-5 overall and will have a week off before jumping into Big Sky Conference play on Wednesday, December 29 at Montana State and Friday, December 31 at Montana. WSU's next home game comes on Thursday, January 13 against Sacramento State.