BYU Defense Earns Win Over Weber State

PROVO -- Defense was the key for BYU as the Cougars extended their home win streak to 22 with a 65-47 win over Weber State.

BYU led the entire game, and the closest the Wildcats came as a tie at 2-2 in the first half. The Cougars established a 14-point lead at the half, thanks to four three-pointers. In the second half the defense allowed only 18 points after surrendering 29 to the Wildcats in the first half.

The Cougar defense came up big, allowing only 47 points, the least amount of points allowed this season after holding San Diego to 59 points.

"Tonight we were much quicker to attack penetration," said BYU head coach Steve Cleveland. "Our No. 1 objective was to stop their dribble penetration. This was our best defensive effort of the season."

BYU's defense shut down the Wildcat penetration, leaving Weber State with a 35 percent shot percentage and only 2-for-12 from behind the arc.

"The difference tonight was Matt Montague, who is finally going to the basket," Cleveland said.

In a team leading 39 minutes of play, Matt Montague scored eight points, all in the first half, and recorded a game-high seven assists.

Eric Nielsen and Mark Bigelow led the Cougars in scoring with 14 points each. Bigelow made two three-pointers and pulled down seven rebounds, including three offensive rebounds. Nielsen led BYU with eight rebounds and made his first three-pointer of the season. Nielsen, who only made one three-pointer last season, has nine career three-point shots.

Freshmen Jimmy Balderson raised the bar in his young career, recording a career-high six points in a career-high 13 minutes. Jon Carlisle made his debut this season with three minutes of play in the first half.

Jermaine Boyett and Chris Woods led Weber State with 12 points each. Boyett finished with four steals and five turnovers.

The Cougars extended their home win streak against the Wildcats to 14-0 and 18-9 overall.

"We got beat in a very tough place to play," said WSU head coach Joe Cravens. "They've got a pretty good team here."

BYU hosts Creighton Saturday night at 8 p.m. as the Cougars look to extend their home winning streak to 23.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Weber State Wildcats vs BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars
12-05-01 7:05 pm at MARRIOTT CENTER BYU PROVO UTAH
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VISITORS: Weber State Wildcats 5-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
24 WOODS, Chris........ f  4-8    0-1    4-4    1  4  5   2  12  1  1  0  0  27
35 BACHMAN, Stephan.... f  2-6    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   4  1  1  0  0  25
50 DANLEY, Patrick..... c  0-1    0-0    2-4    2  5  7   2   2  0  2  1  0  19
03 BOYETTE, Jermaine... g  6-15   0-2    0-1    1  2  3   2  12  3  5  0  4  32
22 HAMILTON, John...... g  1-5    1-3    3-4    0  1  1   2   6  0  1  0  1  22
02 SPARROW, NIC........    1-4    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   1   2  0  2  0  0  21
05 BARTON, Brad........    0-1    0-1    0-3    4  0  4   2   0  2  1  0  0  15
13 THURIG, Marc........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   0   0  0  0  0  0   3
42 EYRE, Talmadge......    0-2    0-0    0-1    2  2  4   1   0  0  1  0  0   9
43 MORRISON, Stevie....    2-5    1-4    2-3    0  2  2   1   7  0  1  0  0  20
45 CARTER, Marlon......    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  0  0  0  0   7
   TEAM................
   Totals..............   17-48   2-12  11-20  11 21 32  15  47  7 15  1  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-25 40.0%   2nd Half:  7-23 30.4%   Game: 35.4%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-6  16.7%   2nd Half:  1-6  16.7%   Game: 16.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  8-14 57.1%   2nd Half:  3-6  50.0%   Game: 55.0%    3
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HOME TEAM: BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars 3-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 BIGELOW, Mark....... f  5-12   2-6    2-2    3  4  7   3  14  3  2  0  0  31
25 NIELSEN, Eric....... f  6-10   1-1    1-2    0  8  8   3  14  2  2  0  0  35
52 JENSEN, Jared....... c  3-7    0-0    1-1    0  2  2   1   7  0  1  1  1  20
02 HANSEN, Travis...... g  3-7    1-2    0-0    2  4  6   4   7  1  3  0  0  23
31 MONTAGUE, Matt...... g  3-7    0-1    2-2    1  1  2   2   8  7  1  0  1  39
10 NASHIF, Terry.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   1
20 BOBIK, Daniel.......    4-10   1-4    0-0    1  1  2   1   9  2  0  1  2  26
22 BALDERSON, Jimmy....    2-4    0-1    2-2    1  1  2   1   6  2  2  0  1  13
32 JEPSEN, Bart........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   5
40 HOWARD, Dan.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   2   0  0  0  1  0   4
42 CARLISLE, Jon.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  0  0  0   3
   TEAM................                         1  3  4
   Totals..............   26-57   5-15   8-9   11 26 37  20  65 17 12  3  5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-30 56.7%   2nd Half:  9-27 33.3%   Game: 45.6%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-8  50.0%   2nd Half:  1-7  14.3%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-6  83.3%   2nd Half:  3-3  100 %   Game: 88.9%    0
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Officials: Bill Gracey, Verne Harris, Jim Danner
Technical fouls: Weber State Wildcats-None. BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars-None.
Attendance: 5948
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Weber State Wildcats..........   29   18  -   47
BRIGHAM YOUNG Cougars.........   43   22  -   65