Emery sets BYU freshman scoring record in win over San Francisco

BYU vs. San Francisco Notes and Quotes

BYU vs. San Francisco Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO – Freshman guard Nick Emery led BYU with 37 points in a 114-89 win over San Francisco in West Coast Conference play Thursday night at the War Memorial Gym.

Emery's 37 points set the new single-game freshman scoring record previously held by Danny Ainge, who had 36 in a game his freshman season. Emery also tied Chase Fischer's school record for threes in a game with 10. Emery went 10 for 12 from the 3-point line and 12 for 15 from the field.

Kyle Collinsworth also had a night scoring 17 points to go with six rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Corbin Kaufusi had his second-career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Chatman recorded a career-high 11 points. Fischer and Kyle Davis rounded out the six Cougars in double-figures with 22 and 12 points, respectively.

The game got off to a quick start as the Cougars (18-8, 9-4 WCC) and Dons (13-11, 6-7 WCC) exchanged baskets back and forth to bring the score to 7-7 with 16:28 to go in the half.

Three-pointers from Emery and Fischer sparked BYU on an 8-0 run and the Cougars surged ahead 15-7. At 14:33 the Dons ended the run on a Tim Derksen layup, but the Cougars used the momentum to push ahead and lead the Dons 18-9.

The lead remained single digits before a 10-0 run that included a Fischer 3 and a pair of treys by Emery pushed the Cougar lead to 38-21 with 7:28 left in the half.

The Cougars remained ahead by double figures the rest of the half but ended the first period in a flury, outscoring the Dons 12-2 in the final 1:42. Chatman had five points during the run, Emery hit a 3 and Collinsworth drained a 3 at the buzzer to send BYU into the break with a 58-39 lead.

Emery finished the first half with 5 of 6 from the 3-point line while the team went 9 of 14.

Collinsworth scored the first points of the second half, but the Dons used a 9-1 run, bringing them within 14 points at 66-52. Emery, still on fire from his first half shooting display, hit threes on the next two possessions and ended the Dons’ hope of coming back as the Cougars led 72-52.

After a timeout, the Dons went on an 11-6 run, but the Cougars still led by 15. BYU gained some momentum and began a 4-0 run with a jumper from Collinsworth to return their lead to 19 points. 

With 10 minutes left in the game, a Collinsworth dunk and Chatman 3-pointer brought the Cougar lead to 88-67 for the biggest lead yet.

Zac Seljaas hit a three to make the score 93-71 with eight minutes left in the game. Emery hit his eighth and ninth threes of the night to help the Cougars extend their advantage to 99-73 before a media timeout. 

BYU hit 100 points for the second time this season on a Davis a free throw with six minutes left in the game, leading the Dons by 22.

With less than four minutes to go, Chatman hit another three to bring his point total to a career-high 11. The Cougars and Dons went back and forth to bring the score to 111-88 with 2:25 left in the game. 

At 1:50 Emery hit his 10th three to tie Fischer’s BYU record for threes in a game and set the single-game freshman scoring record with 37 points, breaking Danny Ainge's 36 set on Dec. 3, 1977. Emery was taken out of the game after a standing ovation and the Cougars finished the game 114-89.

BYU will continue on the road for the next two games, taking on Santa Clara Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. PST in the Leavey Event Center. The game will be televised live on BYUtv, TWC Sports Network, ROOT Rocky Mountain/Northwest and CSN California and broadcast live on the Cougar IMG Sports Network, KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM/1160 AM and BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143. Live streaming video will be available on BYUtv.org and TheW.tv.