Game 32 - Cougars to Play San Diego State in MWC Semis

BYU GAME #32 FAST FACTS

BYU (25-6, 12-4) - #1 Seed vs.

San Diego State (22-8, 11-5) - #4 Seed

Friday, March 13, 2009

Thomas & Mack Center (18,500)

Las Vegas

6 p.m. PT

Series

BYU leads San Diego State, 44-21, including a 2-0 sweep this season

TV

CBS CS HD (Tom Hart, play-by-play; Steve Lappas, game analysis)

Radio

KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM/1160 AM) and the Cougar Sports Network (5 p.m. PT 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/

No. 1 Seed BYU to Play in San diego State in MWC Semis at 6 P.M. PT

With an 80-69 win over Air Force on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships, BYU men’s basketball will face San Diego State (22-8, 11-5) on Friday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals. The Cougars swept San Diego State during the regular season, winning 77-71 at home and coming back from a 14-point second half deficit to win 69-59 on the road. This marks the third-straight season BYU has advanced to the semifinals of the MWC postseason tournament. The Cougars defeated San Diego State 63-54 in the semifinals last season. After starting 3-3 in MWC play BYU finished with a 9-1 record, overcoming a two-game deficit in the standings in the final three games to earn a tie for the regular season title. Friday’s game will be televised live on CBS CS HD 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 p.m. PT.

Up Next

If BYU wins, the Cougars will advance to the MWC finals and play the winner of Friday’s second semifinal between second-seed Utah and sixth-seed Wyoming. Saturday’s final will begin at 4 p.m. PT and will be televised nationally on VERSUS.

Cougar Quick Hits

— BYU is now 12-8 all-time in the MWC tournament, including 7-3 in the quarterfinals and 4-2 in the semifinals.

— BYU won its league-high fifth MWC regular season title with its 54-49 home win over Air Force last Saturday. The Cougars share the 2009 title with New Mexico and Utah. BYU also shared the title in 2001 and 2003 and took the title outright in 2007 and 2008.

— With a 9-1 finish to the 2008-09 regular season BYU has now finished at least 9-1 in four years under Dave Rose.

— At 25-6 overall and 12-4 in MWC play BYU is 51-13 (.797) in conference play under Coach Dave Rose. His .797 winning percentage is best all-time in the MWC. Rose is now 97-32 (.752) overall in four seasons, giving him the best winning percentage for a BYU coach through four seasons. Rose has led BYU to four-straight 20-win seasons including 20-9 and a trip to the NIT in his first season. 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. Rose was named MWC coach of the year in 2006 and 2007.

— Lee Cummard and Jimmer Fredette were named first-team all-MWC while Jonathan Tavernari received third-team recognition. Jackson Emery was named to the All-Defensive Team. Cummard is a repeat first-team honoree and Tavernari is a repeat third-team honoree. Cummard and Fredette have also earned all-district honors.