PROVO -- BYU improved to 2-0 Wednesday with its 92-64 victory over Southern Utah University in the Marriott Center. Junior college transfer Terrell Lyday scored 15 points to lead a balanced Cougar scoring attack that featured six players in double figures.

After two blowout BYU wins in 1992 and 1994 at its annual Cougar Classic, the Cougars and Thunderbirds played even over the first 10 minutes and gave the 4,518 in attendance the impression that the third meeting between the two schools might come down to the buzzer. But the Cougars began to clamp down defensively and penetrate Southern Utah's zone defense to go on a 26-6 run to close the half with a 39-25 advantage. The Cougars kept up the intensity after the break, going on a 12-3 burst to put the game's outcome out of question.

"We did a good job defensively," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said. "We got four or five consecutive stops and that was the turning point in the game. We worked hard on our defense the past two days and the kids responded. I see improvement from Saturday."

BYU's offensive output also improved from Saturday, by one point, as the Cougars surpassed the 90-point mark for the second straight time after doing it only once in Cleveland's previous two seasons. In addition to Lyday's 15 points, Mekeli Wesley and Silester Rivers scored 14, Michael Vranes 13, Eric Nielsen 12 and Nate Cooper 10.

Nielsen was perfect in his five field goal attempts and is 9-11 on the year as the Cougars continued to shoot well, making 25-43 from the floor for 58 percent. They shot 42 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the line. Lyday, who made over 100 threes at Fresno City College last year, made two treys for the second straight game while Vranes went 3-3 from behind the arc to remain a perfect 5-5 on the year.

The Cougars' inside attack was also clicking as Rivers and Wesley got to the line 10 and nine times, respectively, each making good on eight of their attempts. Point guard Matt Montague and Nathan Cooper helped get the ball inside with some nice entry passes to total five and three assists, respectively. Nielsen and Lyday each grabbed five rebounds and Rivers four. Rivers sat out most of the second half to mend a sore ankle.

Guard Jeff Monaco, who scored 27 points in 33 minutes while adding four assists, led the Thunderbirds. Tyson Hancock added nine points, but the Cougar defense held Southern Utah to 36 percent shooting on the night. With the loss, Southern Utah falls to 1-2 on the year.

BYU improves to 2-0 for the first time under Cleveland and will take a couple days off for Thanksgiving before starting its preparation for a date with No. 8 Arizona in Tucson Wednesday. The Cougars will stay on the road to face Denver on Dec. 4.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Southern Utah University vs Brigham Young
11/24/99 7:05 at Provo, Utah
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VISITORS: Southern Utah University 1-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
21 HOUSE, Fred......... f  2-5    1-2    0-0    0  4  4   4   5  0  2  0  2  17
35 PUGMIRE, Nate....... f  1-3    1-1    0-0    0  1  1   2   3  2  2  0  1  21
25 HANCOCK, Tyson...... g  3-8    2-5    1-2    0  1  1   1   9  2  2  0  0  20
32 MONACO, Jeff........ g  8-14   4-8    7-7    2  0  2   2  27  4  7  0  2  33
44 WHEELER, Johbn...... *  0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   4   0  0  2  0  0   5
12 EVANS, David........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   4
22 SANT, Justin........    1-7    1-5    0-0    0  2  2   1   3  3  2  0  3  23
30 CHANDLER, B.J.......    1-3    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   2   2  0  0  0  0  12
33 FAULKNER, Jim.......    2-4    1-1    0-2    1  1  2   3   5  2  2  0  1  16
34 DAY, Ross...........    1-5    1-3    1-1    1  0  1   1   4  1  0  0  0   6
40 WALLIN, Chris.......    1-4    0-1    0-1    1  2  3   5   2  0  0  0  0   7
42 MILES, Aaron........    1-4    0-0    0-0    2  1  3   1   2  1  0  0  1  11
52 BLOOM, Nate.........    0-1    0-0    2-2    0  0  0   4   2  0  2  0  0  25
   TEAM................                         7  1  8
   Totals..............   21-58  11-26  11-15  15 15 30  31  64 15 21  0 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-22  .409   2nd Half: 12-36  .333   Game:  .362  DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-9   .444   2nd Half:  7-17  .412   Game:  .423  REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-4   .750   2nd Half:  8-11  .727   Game:  .733     2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Brigham Young 2-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
25 NIELSEN, Eric....... f  5-5    0-0    2-5    2  3  5   1  12  1  1  1  1  27
15 WESLEY, Mekeli...... c  3-5    0-0    8-9    0  2  2   4  14  2  1  0  0  21
13 VRANES, Michael..... g  4-6    3-3    2-2    1  1  2   3  13  0  4  0  1  20
24 LYDAY, Terrell...... g  5-9    2-6    3-4    0  5  5   2  15  1  5  1  1  32
31 MONTAGUE, Matt...... g  1-3    0-0    3-4    0  2  2   2   5  5  3  0  1  28
02 RIVERS, Silester....    3-6    0-0    8-10   2  2  4   2  14  1  1  0  3  19
04 CHRISTENSEN, Todd...    0-1    0-1    3-4    0  2  2   3   3  0  1  0  1  16
05 ROBERTS, Marc.......    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  1  0  0   3
10 ALLEN, John.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
20 TAGGART, Nick.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
33 SMITH, Morgan.......    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  1  0  0   1
34 ELLSWORTH, Joe......    0-1    0-0    0-1    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  1  0   1
40 HOWARD, Dan.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  0  0  0   6
42 COOPER, Nathan......    2-5    0-2    6-6    0  2  2   1  10  3  1  0  1  21
50 NIELSEN, David......    0-0    0-0    2-2    0  0  0   1   2  1  0  0  0   3
   TEAM................                         3  2  5
   Totals..............   25-43   5-12  37-47   8 24 32  20  92 14 19  3  9 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-21  .524   2nd Half: 14-22  .636   Game:  .581  DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-8   .375   2nd Half:  2-4   .500   Game:  .417  REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half: 14-17  .824   2nd Half: 23-30  .767   Game:  .787     5
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Officials: David Hall, Kelly Self, Tim Gabutero
Technical fouls: Southern Utah University-WHEELER, Johbn; HOUSE, Fred.
Brigham Young-CHRISTENSEN, Todd.
Attendance: 4518
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Southern Utah University......   25   39  -   64
Brigham Young.................   39   53  -   92

PROVO -- After opening the season with a 91-62 win over UC Riverside Saturday, BYU faces Southern Utah University (1-1) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The game will be broadcast on KSL Newsradio 1160 AM..

Cougars Seek a First in Cleveland Era

BYU has opened each of its three seasons under coach Steve Cleveland with a win but is still seeking its first 2-0 start in the Cleveland era. The Cougars defeated San Diego State on the road in Cleveland's first game at the Cougar helm, 73-59, but then was blown out at home by Washington, 78-49, in their second game of the 1997-98 season. Last year, BYU opened at home with a 73-67 win over Wofford College before losing on close game on the road at Weber State, 83-80. This year BYU plays its first two games at home and will be seeking its first 2-0 start under Cleveland after its 29-point opening win against UC Riverside.

Scouting Southern Utah

Three starters (Jim Faulkner, 6-6 guard, Tyson Hancock, 6-7 forward, and Jeff Monaco, 6-0 point guard) return from last year's 13-17 Southern Utah team. The Thunderbirds lost team MVP Tarvish Felton and its leading scorer and rebounder Kenyatta Clyde and have added freshman center Nate Bloom, Southern Utah's first seven-footer in a decade, UVSC transfers John Wheeler (6-10 center), B.J. Chandler (6-7 forward) and Justin Sant (6-2 guard); along with Dixie College transfer Fred House (6-5 guard/forward). House leads the Thunderbirds in scoring after two games with a 15.5 average, followed by Hancock at 13.0 and Wheeler at 10.0. All three players are averaging at least five rebounds per game. Monaco and Sant are adding nine and eight points, respectively, from the guard line with Monaco dishing out nine assists per game. As a team, SUU is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 30 percent on threes. From the charity stripe, they are shooting 63 percent. Southern Utah opened with a home win against Western State University, 96-78, before losing to Sacramento State on the road Monday, 65-58. House had 18 points against Western and 13 points and 10 rebounds against Sacramento.

Series Record

This will be the third meeting between the two schools from Utah and the first meeting that was not part of the Cougar Classic. The Cougars have a 2-0 lead in the series with Cougar Classic wins in 1992 (108-62) and 1994 (82-67). Last year the Thunderbirds played in the Cougar Classic but did not face BYU.

Quick Facts

BYU Head Coach: Steve Cleveland

Record at BYU: 21-37 (3rd year)

Overall Div. I record: Same

Southern Utah Head Coach: BIll Evans

Record at Southern Utah: 98-105 (8th year)

Overall Div. I record: Same

Series Record: BYU leads 2-0

Game Time: 7:05 p.m. MST

Broadcast Plans

Radio:

Network: KSL Newsradio 1160 AM

Air Time: 6:30 p.m. MST

Play-by-play: Greg Wrubell

Color: Mark Durrant

Back to the Pac

After playing the toughest schedule in the conference last year which included four Pac-10 schools, BYU will return to the Pac-10 battles in its next game against Arizona in Tucson Dec. 1. The Cougars lost to the Wildcats in Provo last year in overtime, 78-74. BYU will also play Arizona State at home Dec. 7 after a Dec. 4 road game at Denver.