Buckeye Blogger Network
Among the flurry of rivalry games and games that saw lower ranked teams overcoming higher ranked teams this past weekend, one matchup pitted two top-10 schools against each other in a contest that featured some “non-traditional” powers that have risen to the upper echelons of college basketball this season. The BYU Cougars, led by player of the year candidate Jimmer Fredette, went on the road to meet the San Diego State Aztecs, with the teams playing not only for bragging rights this year, but potentially for a shot at a #1 tournament seeding, especially given the recent losses of other teams near the top of the rankings.
The Cougars prevailed in the game as the lower ranked team, and as a result both teams found themselves with the same season record as our own Buckeyes at 27-2. The game represented a big win on the road for BYU, and a disappointing loss for San Diego State, who lost to BYU earlier in the season to record their first L of the year. The matchup was intriguing in that the two clubs play significantly different styles, and in the end it was the outside shooting of the Cougars that proved to be the more effective strong suit.
Truly it was a shooting clinic for BYU. Fredette led all scorers with 25 points, which included four 3-pointers, and teammate Charles Abouo posted 18 points, knocking down four three’s of his own. The Aztecs only led when the score was 2-0, and every time SDSU made a bid to draw even another BYU three-pointer would rain down to extend the lead once again. The Cougars also shot over 85% from the foul line. Kawhi Leonard led the way for San Diego State with 17 points and 13 boards. Read More
