BYU vs. Air Force: Game Notes & Quotes

BYU vs. Air Force

February 13, 2010

Marriott Center (Provo, Utah)

Player Notes

— Jonathan Tavernari tied his season high with 19 points to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Tavernari had 17 points at halftime. The senior shot 6-for-7 from the field and 5-for-5 from three in the first period.

— Tyler Haws had 4 steals, a career high.

— Brandon Davies had 2 steals, also a career high.

— Logan Magnusson earned the first steal of his BYU career.

— With 6 dimes against AFA, Jimmer Fredette has had 6 or more assists in 12 games this season.

Team Notes

— BYU’s 91 points is the second-highest total ever allowed by Air Force against an MWC opponent and the most given up by the Falcons this season. Dickinson State scored 77 points on Nov. 20, the Falcons’ previous high allowed this season.

— The 43-point loss is the worst ever for Air Force in a conference game and the third-worst in Falcon history.

— Tavernari’s 19, Emery’s 18 and Haws’ 16 points gives BYU its second game of the season with three players scoring 15 or more points. Fredette (33), Emery (25) and Haws (20) accomplished the feat against Nevada.

— Air Force’s 20 points in the first half are the second-fewest allowed by BYU in a first half and the fourth-fewest in any half this season.

— The Cougars’ .667 shooting in the first half is tied for third-best in a half this year.

— BYU has defeated Air Force in 10-straight games, having not lost to the Falcons since Jan. 5, 2006.

— BYU now has a 20-game win streak at home, the sixth-longest streak in the nation. The Cougars are a perfect 14-0 at home this season.

— Winning by 43 points, the Cougars have won 5 games by 40 or more, 7 games by 30 or more and 10 games by 20 or more points.

— BYU owns a 146-60 (.709) record as a ranked team. The Cougars are 18-8 (.692) under Coach Rose when ranked, including 9-2 (.818) this season.

— In five seasons as head coach, Dave Rose and the Cougars have finished strong through their last 10 regular-season games, going 9-1 each of the last four seasons. BYU is 3-1 so far this year.

Record Watch

— Jackson Emery recorded 1 steal, giving him 66 for his career to tie the BYU single-season record set by Marty Haws in 1990.

— With 19 points versus Air Force, Jonathan Tavernari has 1,421 career points, putting him ahead of Jay Cheesman’s mark of 1,408 points for 12th all-time. Tavernari needs 91 points to pass Kresimir Cosic for 11th all-time.

— With 9 points versus Air Force, Jimmer Fredette has 1,282 career points and is 3 points from passing Alan Taylor for 20th all-time.

— BYU’s record of 23-3 matches the 1987-88 team for the best record through 26 games of any BYU squad.

Game Trends

— Jackson Emery hit two threes to start the Cougars off with a 6-0 lead 1:31 into the game. Emery started the game 4-for-4.

— After falling behind 7-6, BYU went on a 18-2 run over 3:53, including 11 points and three treys from Jonathan Tavernari, to take a 24-9 lead. The lead was eventually extended to 26-5.

— Tavernari scored 12 points in a row for BYU by shooting 4-for-4 from the three-point line. After a layup by Noah Hartsock, Tavernari hit another three.

— BYU started the game shooting 8-for-11 from beyond the arc, including 5-for-5 from Tavernari.

BYU Head Coach Dave Rose

“I was really pleased with how we started the game and kept our momentum. We were able to challenge them and take really good shots.”

“We practiced like that all week so it was good to see it pay off in the game at the end of a long week.”

“Defensively, we were really engaged. We executed it well and challenged their shots well.”

On Jonathan Tavernari: “He’s been terrific the last month. He’s been shooting the ball well and with a lot of confidence. He’s a real bonus to this group.”

“Moving the ball is key to how we play, as well as being confident in your teammates.”

“On paper, the conference is really strong and we sit really well with the national attention. But the play seems the same as it always has been – great coaches and great players.”

Air Force Head Coach Jeff Reynolds

“We did not defend very well. We played three different defenses. They moved the ball really well and they played the best offense they could have played. They are a good basketball team—worthy of their ranking.”

“Coming out in the second half we played with them for the first few minutes, but we lost the game in the first half. They had more energy than we did.”

BYU Guard Jackson Emery

“It was hard last week, not that we lost, but how we lost. We did a great job refocusing ourselves during practice this week and we came out strong tonight in the game.”

“Any time you can get Air Force to play at your tempo is a good thing.”

BYU Forward Jonathan Tavernari

“We played as a team and we did what we do. It was a fun game where we were able to get the rebounds and make the fast breaks. The main thing about how this team wins is because we have so many options.”