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StumbleMWC TOURNAMENT:
Jimmer Fredette sets scoring record as BYU beats TCU
TCU can’t hold its halftime lead or slow down Fredette
Jimmer Fredette of BYU smirks after getting fouled during Thursday’s Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinal game against TCU at the Thomas & Mack Center. Fredette scored 45 and BYU advances with a 95-85 win.
Thursday, March 11, 2010 | 9:40 p.m.
Fredette's 45 Leads BYU Past TCU
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del.icio.usJimmer Fredette's 45 points set a new Mountain West Conference Tournament record for points scored in a game, as BYU survived TCU, 95-85.
Some strive for perfection. Others hope for it.
Jimmer Fredette expects it. So after Fredette, a BYU junior, scored a Mountain West Conference Tournament-record 45 points in his team’s 95-85 first-round victory against TCU, what did he talk about?
The shots he missed, of course.
“I didn’t shoot very well from the three-point line,” Fredette said.
Sure, Fredette went 2-for-10 from three-point range. But BYU coach Dave Rose would sacrifice those numbers any day as long as Fredette was as efficient at getting to the free-throw line as he was Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Fredette went 23-for-24 from the charity stripe.
“Jimmer’s ability to get to the free-throw line tonight was the difference in the game, obviously,” Rose said.
Aside from Fredette’s performance, the game followed a similar outline to the first two games of the tournament.
The underdog, TCU in this case, hung tight early and kept things close almost the entire time. But eventually the higher seed, BYU, used its talent to outlast them.
It was the third game of the day decided by 10 points or less. The close nature of all the Mountain West games did not seem to surprise Rose.
“When you get to this point, it’s three days and if you win three in a row, you get what you wanted all along,” Rose said. “I think it’s just part of the human competitive spirit that makes this time of the year so intriguing.”
TCU held a 40-39 lead at halftime after sophomore Ronnie Moss hit a shot at the buzzer.
Moss was the engine that kept the Horned Frogs in the game for so long. He scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half. Moss also added five rebounds and four assists.
“Every time they went on a run, we didn’t back down,” Moss said. “We came right back at them.”
But Moss and TCU ran into the inevitable; they ran out of fuel. With 12 minutes left in the game, the Horned Frogs were down 59-58.
The Cougars out-scored them 28-14 over the next eight minutes to effectively demolish any upset hopes.
“If a team gets frustrated because another team is staying with them, that’s not a good thing,” Rose said. “The bottom line is, I thought we handled our composure.”
It was the sixth time this season Fredette scored more than 30 points and the second he’s had more than 40.
But what about that one free-throw he missed?
“I’m still upset about that, to be honest with you,” Fredette said. “I’ll think about it tonight and try to correct that.”
Fredette was probably joking. But it was hard to tell.
Discussion: 12 comments so far…
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He's a good player for sure, but TCU is no UNLV.
I Hate BYU, Jimmer Fredette is a Class Act. I talked with him for the first half of the UNLV v. Utah Game tonight... Knows the game and knows UNLV's weaknesses... Go Rebels, but it is going to be a 40 minute battle... Luckily UNLV is in the NCAA Tournament, Now they are playing for the best seed possible 7,6, or 5.
Not suprised that Jimmer is a nice guy or even a class act. This is a good, healthy rivalry and I hope the fans treat each other with the same respect that the players have for each other.
WOW!
I watch a TON of college hoops. This kid's performance yesterday was amazing.
How fun is college Basketball for the fans?
No respect! no mercy ... I respect all our mwc opponents - but i hate byu ... we own them ... we'll smoke em and jimbo might be the only one to score from their team but sure as hell aint going for 45
Not as impressive when you realize the MWC officials automatically give him 4 steps and a foul every time he touches the ball.
Hey Tito and Youngrebelfan - get a clue. You beat the Y a lot on your home court, which the MWC fully supports given where the tournament is, but you don't own BYU. BYU beats you almost every time in Provo. and nobody gives Fredette anything. and you know it.
BTW, to UNLV and UNM fans, there's more than one sport besides basketball. BYU plays them all well.
I must agree with YoungRebelFan, the fouls were unreasonable. Even the BYU fans behind me at the game agreed. Every time Fredette touched the ball, the officials called a foul. That is where 1/2 his points came from.
BYU is also a lot older than UNM, UNLV, and every other school for that matter, BleedsBlue.
And count Fredette's steps tonight. Keep in mind that more than two is considered traveling...by most officials.
Jimmer = Carry the ball, 3 steps, jump stop, change pivot foot, jump into the defender, gets a foul or cries if ones not called. He will fit perfect in the NBA because they dont call traveling or a carry either.
Boo Hooo U will be crying again tonight!
I love that the Booo Hoooo U fans were chanting MVP for Jimmer. If I was ten years younger I would show up to the game with a shirt that says "Jimmer is the true MVP, Most Valuable Poligamist" Jimmer "True Love" Fredette
Sorry I ment Big Love!