BYU tops Utah, 63-50

Saturday 02/28/2009 3:00 PM
TEAM STAT LEADERS
utah brigham young
Points L. Borha  15 J. Fredette  25
Rebounds L. Nevill  16 C. Miles  8
Assists C. Brown  2 L. Cummard  4
Team Stats: utah |  brigham young

PROVO, Utah(AP) Jimmer Fredette scored 25 points to lead BYU past Utah 63-50 and tighten the race for first place in the Mountain West Conference.


Fredette scored seven points to fuel a game-turning 14-2 run early in the second half and help BYU (22-6 overall, 10-4 MWC) recover from its worst first-half of shooting this year.


Lawrence Borha scored 15 points and Luke Nevill added nine points and 16 rebounds for Utah (20-8, 11-3).


The 6-foot-2 Fredette repeatedly drove the lane and lofted layups over and around the long arms of 7-foot-2 Nevill. He added a 3-pointer during BYU's decisive run.


The Cougars entered the game leading the nation in shooting but shot just 26.7 percent in a first half dominated by Utah.


BYU's defense stifled the Utes in the second half. Utah missed all nine of its 3-point attempts and made just 2 of its final 18 shots.


Lee Cummard scored 16 points. Chris Miles added 13 points and eight rebounds and helped hold Nevill to 3-of-12 shooting.


The Cougars forced 15 Ute turnovers while committing just five.