Cougars  107    Horned Frogs  77

Recap: T-C-U vs. B-Y-U

Sports Network | March 6, 2010

Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Jonathan Tavernari scored 23 points, as 14th-ranked BYU breezed past TCU, 107-77, at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo each added 22 points for the Cougars (28-4, 13-3 MWC), who finished the regular season having won six of seven and are the second seed in the upcoming Mountain West Conference Tournament.

"If you saw the game and saw the start of the game, you saw how important this time of year is to every team," said BYU head coach Dave Rose. You can't afford to take even a minute for granted. TCU came out and hit its first seven shots. Most of their points came off the attack and got us in situations where we didn't get to them quick enough and didn't stop the ball like we needed to."

Ronnie Moss poured in 17 points for the Horned Frogs (13-18, 5-11), who dropped four of five to end the year. Zvonko Buljan had 11 points with six rebounds, while Greg Hill, Nikola Cerina and Edvinas Ruzgas each scored 10.

BYU rallied from an early 14-point deficit, and slowly chipped away until taking a 31-29 lead with 8:06 to play in the first half after Abouo hit two from the line.

A 9-4 burst from there provided the visitors a 40-33 edge on a pair from the line by Jimmer Fredette, and though TCU got within 40-36 with 4:38 to go in the half on two free throws from Ruzgas, BYU quickly opened up a double-digit advantage on a Fredette trey for a 50-39 game.

Tavernari hit a layup to give the Cougars a 57-43 lead at the break.

BYU continued to press at the start of the second half, reaching a 20-point edge at 65-45 on a three-point play from Brandon Davies. When Buljan hit a layup with 9:48 left in the contest, it pulled TCU within 81-66, but BYU took control for good from there.

Tavernari's three established an 89-68 advantage with 7:54 remaining, then the Cougars hit triple digits and moved ahead by 30 with 4:27 left on a long- distance make by Abouo.

"You can tell how competitive this group really is. They all have a different demeanor in how they show their competitive spirit," Rose added. "One thing I know is that they do not like to lose. I think were in a really good spot to start this postseason play because of their character and commitment to each other and competitive spirit."

TCU jumped out of the gate ahead 15-2 after a three from Buljan less than four minutes in. Ruzgas drilled a three and the Horned Frogs' lead ballooned to 18-4 until BYU began its comeback.

BYU has won 15 of the 18 all-time meetings...Fredette posted 18 points with five assists...Davies led BYU with eight rebounds to go with nine points...TCU committed 24 turnovers to 14 for the Cougars.