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Fredette scores 43 as BYU tops TCU in MWC QFs

Thu 11th, March 2010

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Jimmer Fredette exploded for 45 points, as the 14th-ranked BYU Cougars defeated the TCU Horned Frogs, 95-85, in quarterfinal action of the Mountain West Conference Tournament at Thomas & Mack Center.

Jackson Emery added 15 points, including a 4-for-5 effort from three-point range, for the Cougars (29-4), who are the No. 2 seed in the tournament and advanced to face UNLV in Friday's semifinals. UNLV beat Utah, 73-61, in the last quarterfinal.

"I thought defensively it was really hard for us to kind of get them under control," BYU coach Dave Rose said. "They were playing on attack. It was a good thing we were able to score the ball like we did and get the win, but proud of our guys."

Ronnie Moss scored 22 points for the Horned Frogs (13-19), whose season ended with their third consecutive loss. Greg Hill contributed 15 points, while Edvinas Ruzgas and Nikola Cerina both notched 12 points in the losing effort.

The seventh-seeded Horned Frogs lost 10 of their final 13 games of 2009-10.

"Obviously in the second half Jimmer took over the game," TCU coach Jim Christian said. "He's a great player. It's difficult because we tried everything we could do. You trap him. The other guys, they hit so many timely shots as a team, it's hard to take out one guy, especially when he can pass the ball and the other guys can play."

In the first half, the Horned Frogs kept the score close, and a three-pointer by TCU's Keion Mitchem from the right side tied the contest at 29-29. Moments later, a running layup by Moss put TCU ahead by two with 6:19 remaining in the stanza.

A layup by Fredette then gave BYU a 37-36 lead with just over 2 minutes to go before Moss' floater from the lane in the final seconds sent TCU into the locker room with a 40-39 lead.

Ruzgas' three-pointer less than four minutes into the second half gave the Horned Frogs a 50-47 lead, but from that point, BYU went on a 24-10 run and took control of the game. During the stretch, which lasted five-plus minutes, Fredette hit a three-pointer and Emery drilled a pair from beyond the arc. A pair of free throws by Fredette ended the run, and with 10 minutes to go in the game, BYU led 71-60.

With 5:30 to play, Hill connected from three-point range, which kept TCU within 10, 82-72. However, Jonathan Tavernari drilled a key triple with just over a minute remaining to give BYU a 93-80 lead and essentially seal the victory.

Game Notes

BYU now leads the all-time series, 16-3...The Horned Frogs shot 10-of-19 from three-point range, while BYU ended 10-for-23 from beyond the arc...The Cougars won the battle on the glass, 29-25.