BYU, usually the first name that comes to mind when you mention turnovers in December, finally discovered an opponent with even bigger problems.
The Cougars (4-2) committed just five turnovers Tuesday night in the Marriott Center in defeating Utah State (1-3), 78-65. The Aggies gave the ball away 20 times, equaling their average in three previous games.It was BYU's 15th straight victory over the Aggies, who have not beaten their in-state rivals since 1985. The teams will not meet again this season.
This game didn't provide many memorable moments, but it did produce some interesting stats. The Cougars, for instance, are notorious for turning the ball over this time of year. With about half the roster changing every season, it typically takes them a few games to learn to play with each other. But BYU usually offsets that tendency by pounding the boards and shooting well.
Against the Aggies, however, the Cougs couldn't rebound and had trouble shooting (43.9 percent).
"We only had three or four offensive boards all night, and that's pitiful," said BYU's Russell Larson.
The Aggies outrebounded the Cougars, 45-27, but USU coach Larry Eustachy was taking small consolation from that.
"They more than offset that by 20-5 in turnovers, and with foul shooting," he said.
Eustachy thought the big difference in the game was seasoning.
"Our lack of experience really showed," he said. "Their off-guard (Randy Reid) plays like he's 30 years old."
One assumes that's a compliment.
In the first half, neither team looked particularly experienced, especially at shooting. If you coach youngsters, don't use this game film in a shooting clinic. The Aggies shot 40.9 percent in the first half, BYU 37.9. Larson, who has been hot lately, made just 2 of 7 shots as the Cougars settled for a 32-26 halftime lead.
"They did a nice job in the first half defensing us," said BYU coach Roger Reid.
In the second half, though, Larson essentially put the Aggies away. With his teammates still having trouble even drawing rim, Larson scored 16 points in less than 12 minutes as BYU moved out to a 57-44 lead.
"I thought there was a lapse in our defense in the second half," Eustachy said, explaining Larson's hot spell.
Coach Reid offered another explanation. "We used different offensive sets in the second half," he said.
Once Larson cooled off, the Cougs were unable to widen their lead, but the Aggies were unable to narrow it, too.
"Down the stretch, they really took it to us offensively," Eustachy said. "We're not a very good team right now."
What seems a tad surprising is that the Aggies were unable to take advantage of a mismatch at center. USU put 7-footer Nate Wickizer on the floor against BYU's 6-7 Kenneth Roberts, backed up by 6-8 Jay Thompson, who played all of four minutes. BYU did play some zone defense, but anyway you look at it, Wickizer's 12 points and seven rebounds were below his averages of 16.0 and 9.3.
Larson led both teams in scoring with 26 points, giving him 90 points in his last three games. He made 9 of 17 field goals, 8 of 9 free throws, and was the game's leading rebounder, with 12.
BYU guard Kurt Christensen had his best offensive game of the season, hitting 4 of 6 shots for 15 points, with four assists. Randy Reid also contributed 15 points, and Kenneth Roberts scored 11.
For the Aggies, guard Corwin Woodard scored 19 points, but he hit just 1 of 6 three-point shots and committed four turnovers. Bryon Ruffner scored 10 points and committed six turnovers, and Eric Franson grabbed nine boards.
BYU's next game is Friday at 10 p.m. against Texas Tech in the Marriott Center. Utah State hosts Lewis & Clark State on Saturday.