Cougars Fall Behind Early, Lose at UNLV

LAS -- BYU (22-3, 7-2) lost its third game of the season, dropping an 88-74 decision to UNLV in Mountain West Conference play on Saturday.

UNLV (19-4, 7-2) hit eight three-pointers in the first 12 minutes of the game, including four on four-straight possessions in less than two minutes, going up 36-13 at 8:46 in the first half.

UNLV went up by as many as 29 points, 47-18, with just over five minutes left in the half. The Cougars would get the Rebel lead down to 22 by halftime, but could only hold even with UNLV in the second half.

BYU is now 22-3 on the season and 7-2 in MWC play, tied with UNLV for first place in the league standings.

“Tonight all the luck was with the other club and they were really good,” said BYU head coach Dave Rose. “When they’re hitting threes they are so much more difficult to guard because they’re also such good penetrating players.”

Jonathan Tavernari shot 7-for-12 from the field for 16 points off the bench with seven rebounds and two assists.

Jimmer Fredette scored 21 points while leading the team with six assists and tying Tavernari for a game-high seven rebounds. Fredette’s points came largely off of an 11-for-13 output from the free throw line, including 10-for-10 in the first half.

“This stings and it’ll be tough and we’ll have to see how respond," Rose said. "We’re nine games into league play and at the top and we control everything in front of us so that’s a good place to be at this time.”

The Cougars got as close as 13 points at 61-48 with 14:34 left in the second half after Fredette scored on a layup and Tavernari found Tyler Haws open in the corner for a three. But UNLV answered with a 7-0 run, going back up to a 68-48 lead.

UNLV shot 52.5 percent from the field and hit a season-high 12-for-23 three-pointers (52.2 percent), racking up 24 assists to BYU’s 12.

“It’s disappointing when you get down by that much,” said BYU forward Noah Hartsock. “UNLV came out hot. We got into some streaks here and there, but ultimately UNLV took it away.”

Charles Abouo added nine points and Noah Hartsock had eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.

BYU will take a week-long break before facing Air Force at home in Provo on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m.

CLICK HERE for game notes and quotes.

Official Basketball Box Score
BYU vs UNLV
02/06/10  1:00 PM at Tarkanian Court, Thomas & Mack Center
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VISITORS: BYU 22-3, 7-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
34 HARTSOCK, Noah...... f  3-9    0-1    2-2    3  1  4   4   8  1  0  2  0  25
54 MILES, Chris........ c  0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   3   0  0  1  0  0  16
04 EMERY, Jackson...... g  3-9    1-6    3-4    1  2  3   3  10  1  2  0  1  26
23 HAWS, Tyler......... g  2-8    1-3    0-0    2  1  3   1   5  0  1  0  0  29
32 FREDETTE, Jimmer.... g  4-15   2-7   11-13   2  5  7   1  21  6  2  0  2  37
01 ABOUO, Charles......    3-5    1-2    2-2    1  2  3   3   9  0  1  0  1  18
02 MORGAN, JR., Lamont.    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  0  0  0   4
10 LOYD, JR., Michael..    1-2    0-1    1-1    0  0  0   0   3  1  1  0  1  10
12 MAGNUSSON, Logan....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0   1
15 ANDERSON, James.....    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   3   2  0  0  0  0   1
45 TAVERNARI, Jonathan.    7-12   2-6    0-0    0  7  7   1  16  2  2  0  1  33
   TEAM................                         5  2  7
   Totals..............   24-63   7-27  19-22  14 23 37  20  74 12 11  2  6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-27 33.3%   2nd Half: 15-36 41.7%   Game: 38.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-15 26.7%   2nd Half:  3-12 25.0%   Game: 25.9%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 12-12 100 %   2nd Half:  7-10 70.0%   Game: 86.4%    1
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HOME TEAM: UNLV 19-4, 7-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
22 STANBACK, Chace..... f  3-10   1-3    0-0    2 12 14   4   7  4  1  0  1  34
12 MASSAMBA, Brice..... c  1-3    0-0    0-1    1  2  3   3   2  1  2  1  0  16
00 BELLFIELD, Oscar.... g  4-7    3-4    1-3    1  1  2   2  12  2  2  0  1  29
02 WALLACE, Kendall.... g  3-6    1-4    2-2    0  1  1   0   9  3  1  0  1  27
33 WILLIS, Tre'Von..... g 11-20   4-7    7-9    1  4  5   2  33  8  0  1  2  38
03 MARSHALL, Anthony...    2-2    0-0    0-2    1  1  2   1   4  2  1  0  1  13
20 JONES, Steve........    1-1    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   0   2  0  1  0  0   6
31 HAWKINS, Justin.....    1-2    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   0   2  1  1  0  2  13
34 SHAW, Matt..........    4-7    3-4    2-2    2  3  5   2  13  3  0  0  0  15
44 SANTEE, Darris......    2-3    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   4  0  0  1  0   9
   TEAM................                         1  1  2
   Totals..............   32-61  12-23  12-19  11 27 38  16  88 24  9  3  8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 20-31 64.5%   2nd Half: 12-30 40.0%   Game: 52.5%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  9-13 69.2%   2nd Half:  3-10 30.0%   Game: 52.2%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  7-10 70.0%   2nd Half:  5-9  55.6%   Game: 63.2%    2
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Officials: Scott Thornley, Verne Harris, Tom O'Neill
Technical fouls: BYU-None. UNLV-None.
Attendance: 18557
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
BYU...........................   34   40  -   74
UNLV..........................   56   32  -   88
Points in the paint-BY 22,LV 28. Points off turnovers-BY 11,LV 17.
2nd chance points-BY 10,LV 12. Fast break points-BY 4,LV 6.
Bench points-BY 30,LV 25. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-0 times.
Last FG-BY 2nd-00:58, LV 2nd-03:50.
Largest lead-BY None, LV by 29 1st-05:13.