Game 27 - BYU at San Diego State on Tuesday

BYU GAME #27 FAST FACTS

BYU (20-6, 8-4)

at

San Diego State (18-7, 8-4)

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009

Cox Arena (12,414)

San Diego, Calif.

7:30 p.m. PT

Coaches

BYU, Dave Rose (92-32 in fourth season; same overall)

SDSU, Steve Fisher (165-137 in 10th season; 349-219 in 18th season overall)

Series

BYU leads, 43-21, BYU won the first meeting this season 77-71 in Provo on Jan. 24

TV

The Mtn. (Bill Doleman, play-by-play; Dave Bollwinkel, game analysis)

Radio

KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM/1160 AM) and the Cougar Sports Network (6:30 p.m. PT pregame show — Greg Wrubell, play-by-play; Andy Toolson, game analysis)

Web

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

Cougars to Take on Aztecs on Tuesday

BYU men’s basketball (20-6, 8-4 MWC) will look to break a tie for second place with San Diego State (18-7, 84 MWC) on Tuesday when the Cougars battle the Aztecs on the road. New Mexico is also tied for second at 8-4. Both teams are coming off conference setbacks with BYU losing at UNLV and San Diego State losing at New Mexico. The Cougars won the first meeting this season against the Aztecs, 77-71 in Provo. Tuesday’s game will be televised live 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 6:30 p.m. PT.

Up Next

BYU returns to the Marriott Center for a Deseret First Duel matchup with rival Utah in the Century Game on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. MT. The game marks the 100th year of the series between the Utes and Cougars. Utah is currently first in the league at 10-2 and won the first meeting 94-88 in overtime in Salt Lake. Follow the game on www.byucougars.com and listen live on the radio beginning with the pregame show at 2 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 CBS C HD.

Cougar Quick Hits

— Lee Cummard is 11th all-time in scoring at BYU with 1,459 career points. Jonathan Tavernari is 34th all-time with 1,087 career points.

— Cummard and Tavernari continue to climb the BYU record books in made threes and steals. Cummard is seventh in steals (121) and fourth in threes (147) and Tavernari is second in threes (188) and 10th in steals (108).

— At 20-6 in 2008-09 two-time MWC Coach of the Year Dave Rose has guided BYU to four-straight 20-win seasons and three-straight postseason berths. In his first season the Cougars were 20-9 and went 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 120 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.

Looking at San Diego State

San Diego State is 18-7 overall and tied with BYU and New Mexico for second in the conference at 8-4. UNLV is 1/2 games back at 8-5. The Aztecs are coming off a 75-49 loss at New Mexico on Saturday. San Diego State lost Billy White to a knee injury in the first minute of the game and Kyle Spain was sick and his minutes were limited. The Aztecs have lost two of three since losing at Utah on Feb. 11 and defeating Wyoming at home on Feb. 14. San Diego State averages 68.0 points per game as a team (7th in the MWC) while shooting 44.7 percent from the field (5th in the MWC). The Aztecs are first in the league in scoring defense (59.3 ppg) and fifth in field goal percentage defense (.421). San Diego State is at its best when winning the turnover margin. The Aztecs are first in the league in steals at 8.5 per game and second in turnover margin at +3.4. Kyle Spain leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game (8th in the MWC) while Lorenzo Wade also averages double figures at 13.8 points per game. Spain also leads the team with 5.2 rebounds, three-point shooting (51 makes and 41.5 percent—5th in the MWC) and free throw shooting (85.1 percent with 103 makes— 1st in the MWC). Richie Williams is fifth in the conference in assists per game (3.8) and leads the league at 2.3 steals per game. Spain is eighth in the conference at 1.2 steals per game. White averages 9.0 points per game and is shooting an MWC-best 66.0 percent from the field. San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher is in his 10th season with the Aztecs and has a record of 165-137. His career record is 349-219 in this his 18th season.

San Diego State’s Last Outing — Aztecs Fall to Lobos

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Tony Danridge scored 25 points for New Mexico in a 75-49 win Saturday over San Diego State, which failed to overcome the early loss of forward Billy White in the Mountain West Conference game. The Lobos (17-10, 8-4) recorded their largest victory over San Diego State since a 78-49 win in 2000. For the Aztecs (18-7, 8-4), it was their largest loss overall since dropping a 98-69 decision to Washington in 2004. The game also was a season-low in points for San Diego State, while New Mexico has held five its last six opponents to a season low. Danridge went 8-for-12 from the field and made 8-of-9 foul shots, leading a trio of teammates in double digits. San Diego’s Kyle Spain, who did not start either half because of an illness, led the Aztecs with 18 points. In the game’s first minute, White collided with New Mexico’s Roman Martinez. White did not return to the bench until late in the first half, limping on crutches with his left knee heavily wrapped. White had entered the game hitting his last 19 shots over the previous two-plus games. Still, the game was tight with New Mexico holding a 31-29 lead after Spain hit a three-pointer with 2:25 left in the first half. The Lobos, though, closed out the half with a 9-0 run, capped by an three-pointer from Martinez with one second left. Danridge and Martinez combined for 30 of New Mexico’s 40 points at the break. San Diego State came within 45-38 at five minutes into the second half, but New Mexico responded with an 18-4 run for the win.

Series Notes

Saturday’s game will be the 65th meeting between BYU and San Diego State. The Cougars lead the all-time series 43-21 and have three of four against the Aztecs, including a 77-71 home win earlier this season. The Cougars have lost five-straight to the Aztecs in San Diego, with BYU’s last win coming in 2003. The Cougars are 15-17 all-time in San Diego and 5-7 in Cox Arena.

1,000-Point Scorers

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 446 total points for the season and 1,459 for his career. He passed Jay Cheesman (1,408) for 11th all-time in scoring in BYU history during the TCU game. Cummard is 54 points from passing Kresimir Cosic (1,512) for 10th all-time. With 17 points at Air Force junior forward Jonathan Tavernari surpassed 1,000 points for his career. His 19 points at UNLV place him 34th all-time at BYU and 13 points from passing Mark Handy for 33rd. He passed Keena Young (1,068) and Mel Hutchins (1,084) during the UNLV game.

Consecutive Games with a Three

With a three-pointer at the 8:17 mark in the first half at UNLV, Jonathan Tavernari has hit a three in the last 21 games and in 25-of-26 games this season. Tavernari has tied Terrell Lyday (21) for the single-season record for consecutive games with a made three. Mark Bigelow holds the overall record with 22-consecutive games with a made three over two seasons. Tavernari made a three in 20-straight games from the end of last season until going without a three against Cal Poly, the fifth game of this season.

Best Start Through 120 Games

BYU coach Dave Rose coached his 120th game as the head coach of the Cougars when BYU defeated Air Force on Feb. 3. His career record through 120 games of 89-31 (.742) is the best record for a BYU men’s basketball coach through his first 120 games. Rose is three games better than the next best coach, Roger Reid. Below are the records of BYU coaches through their first 120 games and their career records.

Downtown Record Watch

After hitting five threes at UNLV junior forward Jonathan Tavernari has 188 career threes, including 71 this season. He started the season with 117 threes and has passed Andy Toolson (141) and Mike Rose (163) and is now second all-time in school history in made threes and 26 from passing Mark Bigelow for first. Tavernari also has 497 attempts from downtown, good for second all-time in school history. Lee Cummard hit a three against UNLV and now has 147 threes for his career, good for fourth all-time at BYU. Cummard is also fifth all-time in attempts with 335.

The Conference Race

Under coach Dave Rose BYU men’s basketball has been known for its strong finishes in MWC action. In Rose’s first three seasons as a head coach (2005-08) the Cougars were a combined 9-6 in MWC games 1 through 5 and 30-3 in games 6 through 16 — 10-1 each season. So far this season BYU went 3-2 in games 1 through 5 and is 5-2 since. Rose is 47-13 (.783) in MWC action including 29-1 (.966) in home conference games.

By the Numbers

1 BYU’s NCAA Division I ranking in team field goal percentage (as of Feb. 22). The Cougars are shooting 50.6 percent from the field as a team.

3 The number of BYU players ranked in the top six scorers (all games) in the MWC: Jonathan Tavernari (3), Lee Cummard (4) and Jimmer Fredette (6).

4 The number of times BYU head coach Dave Rose has guided the Cougars to 20-win seasons, including 2008-09, in four seasons as head coach. BYU reached the plateau with a home win against New Mexico. Rose is the third BYU coach to win 20 games in each of his first four seasons.

5 The number of three-pointers Tavernari attempted without missing against Colorado State at home.

7 As of Feb. 22, the number of categories in which BYU is ranked in the top-20 in the NCAA (scoring offense (15), scoring margin (8), field goal percentage (1), three-point field goal percentage (17), three-point field goal defense (18), assists per game (7) and assist/turnover ratio (4).

8 The number of statistical categories in which a BYU player ranks among the top three in the MWC (all games) out of 13 categories tracked by the league.

9 The number of statistical categories out of 19 tracked by the league in which BYU is ranked No. 1 as a team in the MWC (Scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage defense, rebounds, assists, assist/turnover ratio, defensive rebounds).

11 The number of games in which Lee Cummard has hit 60.0 percent or better from the field this season. He has hit better than 70.0 percent in six games.

13 The number of games in which Lee Cummard has attempted a free throw without missing.

17 The number of games BYU has won by double figures. The Cougars have won six games by 20-29 points and five games by 30-plus points

20.0 BYU’s average margin of victory in its 20 wins.

21 The number of consecutive games in which Jonathan Tavernari has hit a three-pointer, tied with Terrell Lyday for the season record. Tavernari has made a three in 25 of 26 games this season. He is one game from tying the all-time record held by Mark Bigelow (22) set over a span of two seasons.

24 The number of consecutive free throws Lee Cummard made before missing against UNLV on Feb. 21. His previous miss was his first of two attempts against San Diego State on Jan. 24.

26 The number of threes Jonathan Tavernari needs to pass Mark Bigelow for first all-time.

62.5 Jonathan Tavernari’s three-point shooting percentage over the last four games (15-of-24). Tavernari hit 5-of-5 vs. Colorado State, 2-of-5 at TCU, 3-of-5 vs. New Mexico and 5-of-9 at UNLV.

72.4 BYU’s first half shooting percentage against Colorado State, a season best for the Cougars.

78.3 BYU head coach Dave Rose’s winning percentage in conference games, 47-13, — best in MWC history.

91.4 Lee Cummard’s free throw shooting percentage in league games (32-35), first in the MWC.

95 The number of conference wins for BYU since the formation of the MWC in 1999, first among all conference teams.

100 Percent of games BYU has won this year when holding opponents to 69 points or less this season. The Cougars are 18-0 when holding opponents below 70 points.