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The University of Utah Athletics
Saturday, February 12
Salt Lake City
7:00 PM MT
University of Utah
77
vs
62
BYU
Men's Basketball Defeats BYU, 77-62
2/12/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2000
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Freshman Mike Puzey was there when No. 21 Utah needed him.
Puzey, who had only nine points in eight previous conference games, had 10 points and seven rebounds Saturday night as Utah beat Brigham Young 77-62 to stretch its home winning streak to 50.
Earlier in the day, scoring leader Hanno Mottola was ruled out of the game because of torn ligaments in his elbow and thumb.
"You need to play your heart out tonight," Rick Majerus told Puzey. "We're going to need whatever you can give us."
"That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me," Puzey said. "I knew I had to step up with Hanno out. They were so concerned about our shooters, it freed me up inside."
When Puzey fouled out with 5:51 to play, he earned a standing ovation from the Huntsman Center crowd that has not seen the Utes lose since Dec. 31, 1996, against Wake Forest.
"For us to win, I know Puzey would have to be ready," Majerus said. "He was good all across the board, especially his defense."
Tony Harvey added, "He was unreal. This is the first time he has had a chance to show what he can do. He gave us the energy we needed."
Nathan Cooper brought BYU (15-6, 4-4 Mountain West) within 56-52 with 8:49 remaining on his third 3-pointer of the half. But Alex Jensen scored eight points and Jeremy Killion added a driving layup during a 10-3 spurt that gave Utah a 66-55 cushion with 6:05 to play.
Harvey made a 3-pointer, and BYU's Mekeli Wesley, who had a technical foul earlier in the second half, was whistled for an intentional foul for an elbow to Phil Cullen's chin. Cullen made both free throws and Utah led 71-56 with 5:01 remaining.
"Their presence physically really wore us down," said BYU coach Steve Cleveland, whose team was outrebounded 35-21. "It was a good game for over 30 minutes but then they just took over inside."
Jensen finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Killion had 18 points, and Nate Althoff had 15 and Tony Harvey 14 for the Utes, who have won 17 of their last 19 games.
Wesley and Terrell Lyday each scored 14 points for BYU, but collectively shot 7-of-22. Cooper scored 11 for the Cougars, who have lost three of their last four games.
The win marks the first time the Utes have a winning series record with BYU, Utah's oldest rival. Utah leads 114-113 in the rivalry which dates to 1908.
The win marks the first time the Utes have a winning series record with BYU, Utah's oldest rival. Utah leads 114-113 in the series that dates to 1908.
BYU took a 19-8 lead after eight points from Wesley and a jumper by Todd Christensen. But the Utes' defense clamped down and the Cougars shot 2-of-13 as Utah made its move.
Sparked by the seldom-used Puzey, who had eight points and five rebounds in the first half, the Utes outscored BYU 18-3 over the next seven minutes.
Puzey, who had only scored nine total points in conference games, made a layup with 6:33 left in the half to put Utah up 26-22.
Mottola is listed as game-to-game with torn ligaments in his left elbow and right thumb. Team doctors ruled out season-ending surgery Thursday.
Utah hasn't lost a conference game at the Huntsman Center in more than four years.
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