PROVO — It wasn't the typical BYU lineup that you'd expect to see on the court in the final minutes of a close and critical Mountain West Conference game.
No Jimmer Fredette. No Chris Miles. Tyler Haws only on offense.
But it worked.
By outscoring the UNLV Rebels 13-4 over the final four minutes, the Cougars improved to 15-1, and more importantly, open league play 1-0 with a 77-73 win Wednesday night at the Marriott Center.
"It was everything you thought an opener would be with two quality teams," Cougar coach Dave Rose said.
With Fredette, BYU's main scorer, showing obvious effects of a week-long battle with the flu and strep throat, Cougar reserves Michael Loyd Jr. and Jonathan Tavernari delivered some big shots and big defense plays down the stretch. Jackson Emery, who had a tough night shooting after missing a week of practice with an injured heel, came through with a back-breaking shot in the final seconds. Sophomore forward Noah Hartsock gave the Cougars a chance to win with a strong first half in which BYU shot a season-worst 27 percent.
"It's a team, and sometimes you just have to figure out a way to win and tonight they did," Rose said.
Trailing 69-66 with three minutes left, Loyd, playing the point while Fredette watched from the bench, drove around his defender on the right wing and banked in a running layup to cut UNLV's lead to one. Seconds later, Tavernari drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the game to give BYU a 71-69 lead.
"Tonight JT really, really helped our team ... I've said this a lot of times. He's really committed to helping this team win in any way he has to," Rose said.
But as the Rebels had done all night, they came right back with an answer and tied the game at 71 on two free throws by Tre'Von Willis. But when Loyd twisted around his defender once again and flipped in an off-balance scoop with 90 seconds on the clock, the Cougars never trailed again.
"It felt like it was going my way. Just one of those things," Loyd said.
It went Loyd's and BYU's way again on UNLV's ensuing possession when Loyd forced a turnover on an inbounds pass under the basket. The ball was intended for Willis out front, but Loyd tipped the ball and Willis then knocked it out of bounds.
"They ran that play earlier so I was kind of looking for it," Loyd said.
Then, with the shot clock winding down and just under 26 seconds on the clock, Emery popped in a tough jumper from the foul line to make it a two-possession game at 75-71. After Willis hit 1-of-2 free throws, Haws hit 1-of-2 for BYU with 12.7 on the clock to keep it a two-possession game. Tavernari did the same with 3.3 ticks on the clock to make UNLV's desperation three attempt at the buzzer meaningless.
"You've got to be strong enough on the road to get a good look each time down, but credit BYU. They made the plays when they needed to," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said.
Considering how BYU shot in the first half, it was amazing the Cougars stayed close enough for a chance down the stretch. In fact, despite shooting a miserable 27 percent in the first half and making only 2-of-10 first-half 3-pointers, the Cougars led 33-32 at the break.
At the intermission, BYU's high-powered guard line of Fredette, Haws and Emery were a combined 3-of-20.
"We could tell pretty early that it was going to be tough on Jimmer and Jacks," Rose said. "So you have to look for other things. Jimmer just didn't have that same spark to him ... The time that he was in there caused a lot of issues, but he wasn't nearly as effective as he's been."
Still, BYU led at the break because of 14 first-half offensive rebounds and six first-half steals. Also, Hartsock had a huge opening 20 minutes with 13 points and by scoring BYU's final nine points of the half.
"They keyed on Jackson and Jimmer, and that just left me open underneath and I was able to get the ball and get it in the basket," Hartsock said.
Rose added, "He kept us in the game in that first half. We were having a difficult time finding points."
But UNLV came out in the second half and opened up an 8-point lead after drilling its first four shots from 3-point range. However, when Tavernari and Haws hit back-to-back threes at the 10-minute mark, the Cougars caught the Rebels and never lost sight again.
"The guys just made plays. They just competed. They knew it was time to win and they figured out a way to win," Rose said.
Tavernari and Hartsock scored 17 each to lead the Cougars, with Haws chipping in 12. Emery scored nine on 3-of-9 shooting and Fredette scored seven on 2-of-10 shooting.
e-mail: jimr@desnews.com