Game 20 - Cougars Face Utes on Tuesday

BYU GAME #19 FAST FACTS

Deseret First Duel

BYU (15-4, 3-2)

vs.

Utah (12-7, 3-2)

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009

Huntsman Center (15,000)

Salt Lake City, Utah

8 p.m. MT

Coaches

BYU, Dave Rose (87-30 in fourth season; same overall)

Utah, Jim Boylen (30-22 in 2nd season; same overall)

Series

Utah leads, 124-122, BYU has won last four meetings

TV

The Mtn. (James Bates, play-by-play; Joe Cravens, game analysis)

Radio

KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM/1160 AM) and the Cougar Sports Network (7 p.m. MT pregame show — Greg Wrubell, play-by-play; Mark Durrant, game analysis)

Web

Live audio and live stats links are available on the basketball schedule page at www.byucougars.com/basketball_m/

BYU to Face Rival Utah on Tuesday in Key MWC Matchup

BYU (15-4, 3-2 MWC) will travel up the road to face in-state and Mountain West Conference rival Utah (12-7, 3-2 MWC) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Salt Lake City. The game will be the first men’s basketball contest in the Deseret First Duel rivalry series this season, which Utah currently leads 16-6 with five points on the line Saturday. Both the Utes and Cougars have begun league play 3-2. No team in the league has fewer than two losses and six teams are tied in the loss column with two apiece. Saturday’s game will be televised on The Mtn. while the radio broadcast can be heard on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM out of Salt Lake City and on the Internet at KSL.com beginning with the pregame show at 7 p.m. MT.

Up Next

BYU will host Wyoming on Saturday, Jan. 31, in the Marriott Center at 4 p.m. MT. BYU has won seven straight against Wyoming including three-straight in Provo. Follow the game on www.byucougars.com and listen live on the radio beginning with the pregame show at 3 p.m. MT on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM out of Salt Lake City or via the Internet at KSL.com. The game will be televised live on The Mtn.

Cougar Quick Hits

— Lee Cummard is now 16th all-time in scoring at BYU with 1,336 points. He is two points from passing Marty Haws for 15th. Jonathan Tavernari is 30 points from reaching 1,000 for his career.

— Two-time MWC Coach of the Year Dave Rose has guided BYU to three-straight 20-win seasons and three-straight postseason appearances. In his first season the Cougars were 20-9 and made a trip to the NIT. In his second campaign he guided the Cougars to the outright MWC title, a top-25 ranking, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a 25-9 overall record. Last season he led BYU to a 27-8 overall record, a second-straight outright league title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. He has the best record through 110 games of any BYU basketball coach.

— BYU has been picked to finish second (five first-place votes) in the MWC preseason poll by the league’s media.

— BYU’s school record 53 game home winning streak ended with a 94-87 loss to Wake Forest.

THE DESERET FIRST DUEL RIVALRY SERIES

The 2008-09 season marks the second year of the Deseret First Duel persented by Deseret First Credit Union.

The Deseret First Duel began in September 2007 as a way for BYU, the University of Utah, and Deseret First Credit Union to celebrate this spirited rivalry that dates back to the 1890s. Until last year, there had been no established means to recognize the overall athletic supremacy of the Cougars or the Utes. Now, the university that wins the Deseret First Duel has its name engraved on large granite monuments located at both schools and, most importantly, holds bragging rights for the following year.

Here’s how the Deseret First Duel works: BYU and Utah compete against each other in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s swimming. Points are awarded to the school that wins each game, meet, or match. A team trophy will also be presented to the winner in each sport. The university that scores that scores the first 33 of the total of 65 points will claim the Deseret First Duel championship in April 2009. BYU narrowly defeated Utah to win the inaugural Deseret First Duel in 2007-08.

The Utah vs. BYU rivalry is one of the oldest and strongest in the country. In November 2005, the Wall Street Journal rated the rivalry the fourth best in college athletics. Thanks to a partnership with Deseret First Credit Union, the rivalry now has an official name and a traveling trophy to signify yearly supremacy. The Deseret First Duel sponsorship between the two universities and Deseret First Credit Union is for five years.

“We have discussed the concept of a rivalry series for a long time,” said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. “The rivalry between the two schools has a long and storied tradition. Dr. Hill and I have been looking for ways to promote the positive things about this celebrated rivalry. Our hope is the Deseret First Duel will add excitement to our competitions.”

“We’ve been talking about formalizing a rivalry series for several years now, and it’s really exciting to see it become a reality. The Utah-BYU rivalry is widely recognized as one of the nation’s best in terms of competitiveness and fan interest,” said University of Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. “The rivalry series will serve as another avenue for fans of both schools to show their involvement and enthusiasm. I see the competition as a great way to grow the intensity of the rivalry in a positive fashion.”

Both universities have a Deseret First Duel web link on their respective athletic websites (byucougars.com and utahutes.com). The website provides scores, point totals, upcoming rivalry games and special online offers, including the ability to enter to win the Ultimate Fan Experience.

Deseret First Credit Union, founded in 1955, operates 11 branches from Logan to St. George, has more than 50,000 members and over $417 million in assets. Deseret First is a full-service credit union offering deposit and loan accounts, insurance, investments, SBA loans and more.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Utah currently leads the series 16-6 with five points being decided by Tuesday’s men’s basketball game at 8 p.m. and another five points on the line Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the women’s basketball teams square off in the Marriott Center. BYU women’s soccer opened this season’s Deseret First Duel with a 5-0 win at Utah on Oct. 12 to give BYU a 6-0 lead. Utah answered by sweeping the volleyball series 3-0 and 3-2 to even the score. Utah football defeated BYU 48-24 to give the Utes a 16-6 advantage.

Looking at Utah

Utah is 12-7 overall and 3-2 in MWC play this season, including a 75-65 loss at UNLV on Jan. 24. The Utes are 2-0 at home in conference play with wins over Wyoming and Colorado State and 7-2 at the Huntsman Center overall. Utah is 1-2 on the road in MWC play with losses at San Diego State and UNLV and a win over Air Force. The Utes average 72.4 points per game and shoot 48.4 percent from the field while holding opponents to 64.5 points per game and a 39.2 shooting percentage. Utah leads the conference and is second in the nation in free throw shooting at .790. Luka Drca leads the team from the line shooting 90.0 percent (36-40). Luke Nevill, a three-time conference player of the week this season, leads the team in scoring (17.2), rebounding (8.4) and field goal percentage (61.0). Nevill is first in the league in field goal percentage, tied for first in rebounding and is third in scoring. Lawrence Bohra is second on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game while Shaun Green (10.4) and Tyler Kepkay (10.2) are third and fourth, respectively. Green is third on the team in rebounding (5.2) and leads the Utes in three-point shooting (41 makes, 39.0 percent). Carlon Brown runs the point for Utah and averages 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds (second on the team) and 3.7 assist per game, sixth in the MWC. Utah is coached by Jim Boylen, who led the Utes to a an 18-15 record last season, his first year as a head coach.

Utah’s Last Outing — Utes Fall to UNLV

LAS VEGAS (AP) -TreVon Willis scored a career-high 22 points to lead UNLV over Utah 75-65 Saturday.

Wink Adams and Rene Rougeau added 14 points each for the Runnin’ Rebels (16-4, 4-2 Mountain West). Adams had 12 points in the second half, when the Rebels rallied after trailing 38-30 at halftime.

Luke Nevill led Utah (12-7, 3-2) with 14 points and seven rebounds. Shaun Green, Luka Drca, and Lawrence Borha added 11 points apiece for the Utes, who hit 10 3-pointers.

The Rebels outscored the Utes 45-27 in the second half.

Series Notes

BYU and Utah will meet for the 247th time Tuesday and 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the series. The Cougars won the inaugural game, 32-9, in Provo, on Jan. 23, 1909, and won again on March 5 of that year, 40-27, in SLC on its way to winning the first eight games against the Utes. The series ranks 10th in the NCAA record book in terms of most games in a rivalry and is the 11th longest running rivalry dating back to 1909. Utah is the opponent that BYU has played the most in its history (244 games) and is BYU’s second-longest running series (Utah State series began in 1905 and includes 222 games). In the 100 years of the BYU-Utah series, this season will mark only the eighth year the Cougars have trailed Utah in the overall series after the Utes took their first series lead in 2000. Utah currenty holds a 124-122 series advantage. BYU has a 68-47 record in Provo against the Utes, while Utah holds a 72-48 advantage in Salt Lake City. BYU has a 6-5 edge on neutral floors. The Cougars have won four-straight against Utah including a 55-52 victory in Salt Lake and a 67-59 win in Provo last season. BYU has won four-straight over Utah for the first time since a stretch from 1994 to 1995 that included on win at Utah, two in the Marriott Center and one in the WAC Tournament. The Cougars have won two-straight at Utah for the first time since 1984-85. BYU ended a string of 12 straight Utah wins, its longest in the series, with a 58-54 victory at the 2000 MWC Tournament semifinals. The Utes’ 2003 victory in Provo ended BYU’s nation-best 44-game homecourt victory streak.

1,000-Point Man

Including a career-high 36 points against Long Beach State and performances of 30 points against Weber State, 28 against Cal Poly and 26 at Tulsa, Lee Cummard now has 323 total points for the season and 1,336 for his career. He is now 16th all-time in scoring in BYU history and is two points from passing Marty Haws for 15th all-time.

Approaching 1,000 Points

Junior forward Jonathan Tavernari is fast approaching the 1,000-point club. Coming into the season he had 640 career points and with 330 points so far this season and 970 for his career, Tavernari is now 30 points from reaching 1,000 for his career.

Top-10 Pick Pockets

With 16 steals this season Lee Cummard has climbed to ninth all-time in BYU history in career steals with 115. Cummard had 16 as a freshman, 50 as a sophomore and 33 last season. He is two steals from passing Mark Bigelow for eighth all-time. Jonathan Tavernari is also climbing the list with 34 thefts this season — including a career-high tying five vs. UNLV — and 101 for his career. He is now 11th all-time at BYU in steals.

Iron Man Cummard

Since arriving at BYU as a freshman in 2005-06 senior Lee Cummard has not missed a single game. His streak of 117 games played is tied for 10th for the longest such streak in school history. Cummard has also started the last 88 games he has played, dating back to the first game of the 2006-07 season, a streak that ranks seventh longest in school history. In his career Cummard has played in 116 games and with 11 regular season games remaining, the MWC tournament and the possibility of postseason play he has the potential to claim the top spot in career games played (Nathan Call and Russell Larsen are tied for the top spot with 119 games played). Below are the streaks for consecutive games started and consecutive games played.