Cougar Defense Shuts Down South Alabama in 64-42 Victory

PROVO -- With a solid defensive effort in the second half, and a career night from junior forward Eric Nielsen sparking the offense, BYU outscored South Alabama 36-13 in the final period to record a 64-42 victory in front of 10, 205 fans at the Marriott Center, Saturday. The Cougars remain undefeated at home this year with a 6-0 record in Provo, and improve to 9-4 overall with with the win. South Alabama drops to 8-5 on the season.

With 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, Nielsen recorded his first double-double as a Cougar. He was one of three Cougars to score in double figures, hitting 4-6 from the field and 2-4 from the free throw line in 27 minutes of play. Seniors Mekeli Wesley and Trent Whiting tallied double digits in points for the sixth consecutive game, as Wesley led all scorers with 17 points and Whiting finished with 13 points on the night.

"Eric played very well tonight, and has played well for the past three games," said BYU coach Steve Cleveland.

In addition to Nielsen's solid effort, the Cougars tightened down on defense, allowing the Jaguars just four field goals in the second half. South Alabama closed out the first half with an 8-0 run to take a one-point lead into the locker room. But the second half was all BYU.

The Cougars opened up a 10-point lead early in the second half with a 13-2 run highlighted by back-to-back three pointers by Travis Hansen and Wesley. BYU held South Alabama to just two field goals and a free throw over the last 11 minutes of the game to secure the win.

Jaguar coach Bob Weltlich credited the BYU defense in the win.

"We didn't play very well tonight, but (BYU) had a lot to do with it," Weltlich said. "We got in a hurry in the second half, and you have to give them credit for the defensive effort."

South Alabama committed 16 second-half turnovers and shot only 4-18 from the floor (.222) in the period. BYU hit 14-27 (.591) over the same stretch to open up the score in the final frame.

The Cougars host the University of Idaho Tuesday, January 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The game will be the second half of a double-header, as the BYU women square off against the University of Nebraska at 4:30 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
South Alabama vs Brigham Young University
12/30/00 7:05 at Provo, Utah
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VISITORS: South Alabama 8-5
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
32 THOMAS, Emmett...... f  2-6    1-3    0-0    0  2  2   3   5  2  4  1  0  25
43 WILLIAMS, Henry..... f  1-2    0-0    2-2    1  1  2   1   4  0  2  0  1  13
55 STANESCU, Virgil.... c  1-7    0-0    1-4    3  4  7   4   3  0  7  1  1  22
11 WILLIAMS, Demetrice. g  2-3    0-0    5-10   0  1  1   1   9  1  4  0  2  33
22 DANTZLER, Ravonte... g  4-10   2-4    2-2    1  4  5   3  12  0  3  0  1  32
14 BECK, Ericson.......    3-6    0-0    0-1    0  1  1   2   6  2  1  1  2  24
33 GRAVITT, Brett......    1-5    0-2    0-2    1  5  6   1   2  1  3  1  0  28
34 BOLLMAN, Michael....    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   5
42 FORGET, Matt........    0-0    0-0    1-2    0  3  3   2   1  1  2  1  0  18
   TEAM................                         2  1  3
   Totals..............   14-40   3-9   11-23   8 22 30  17  42  7 26  5  7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-22  .455   2nd Half:  4-18  .222   Game:  .350  DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-6   .500   2nd Half:  0-3   .000   Game:  .333  REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-13  .462   2nd Half:  5-10  .500   Game:  .478     4
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HOME TEAM: Brigham Young University 9-4
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
02 HANSEN, Travis...... f  1-4    1-1    2-2    0  0  0   1   5  1  2  0  1  14
15 WESLEY, Mekeli...... f  6-15   1-3    4-4    3  2  5   3  17  2  2  1  2  22
25 NIELSEN, Eric....... f  4-6    0-0    2-4    2 11 13   1  10  2  0  0  0  27
21 WHITING, Trent...... g  5-12   2-7    1-2    0  1  1   4  13  1  1  0  3  29
24 LYDAY, Terrell...... g  1-7    1-4    4-4    1  4  5   1   7  3  3  0  2  32
01 KNIGHT, Nate........    1-3    0-0    1-2    0  2  2   3   3  1  1  0  0  10
10 ARCHIBALD, Jordan...    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   1
20 BOBIK, Daniel.......    2-3    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   5  0  2  0  1   7
23 SHIPPEN, Ty.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
31 MONTAGUE,Matt.......    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  7  3  0  2  30
34 CHRISMAN, Jacob.....    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   1   2  0  1  0  0   8
40 HOWARD, Dan.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  1  0   1
42 COOPER, Nathan......    0-2    0-0    0-0    2  2  4   3   0  0  1  0  0  16
43 DAWES, Derek........    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   1   2  0  0  0  0   2
   TEAM................                         4     4
   Totals..............   22-56   6-17  14-18  14 26 40  19  64 17 17  2 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  8-29  .276   2nd Half: 14-27  .519   Game:  .393  DEADBALL
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-5   .200   2nd Half:  5-12  .417   Game:  .353  REBOUNDS
F Throw % 1st Half: 11-14  .786   2nd Half:  3-4   .750   Game:  .778     2
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Officials: Larry Stubing, Verne Harris, Bill Gracey
Technical fouls: South Alabama-None. Brigham Young University-None.
Attendance: 10205
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
South Alabama.................   29   13  -   42
Brigham Young University......   28   36  -   64