Tavernari fills in for Cummard in win over USU

Lee Cummard ate Weber State alive earlier this week (30 points on 12 of 13 shooting) but he disappeared in BYU’s 68-63 win over Utah State in the first-ever meeting on a neutral court between these two clubs in the EnergySolutions Arena Saturday night.

Cummard couldn’t find the hoop, made just two field goals and had just one rebound.

This is where Jonathan Tavernari stepped up. He started doing his usual 3-point erratic shooting, but then settled in and found his range. Tavernari kept moving, getting second shots, and registered four steals in scoring a game-high 24 points to lead the Cougars.

Game ball to Tavernari. His line read 7 of 17 from the field, 3 of 9 from beyond the arc, 7 of 8 free throws, all makes with the game on the line, a team-high 9 rebounds, 24 points, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 block and 4 steals in 39 minutes.

USU had to feel very good about Cummard, who was off balance and pressing with his game. Tyler Newbold deserves credit for dogging Cummard.

But Tavernari delivered for Dave Rose.

I thought Chris Miles and Gavin McGregor played solid in kind of a center by committee job against the best center they’ve played so far this season. Miles made all his three field goals and McGregor was 2 of 3 from the field, made 3 of 4 from the line for 7 points.

Emery Jackson kept missing the first of his pair of free throws, but he continued his torrid steal game with 5 and he was BYU’s second-leading rebounder (6) behind J.T. The third rebounder was point guard Jimmer Fredette (5).

“The game was exactly as we thought it would be, a very hard-fought game,” said Rose. “It came down to a cojple of plays at the end of the game. I am proud of our players for the way we executed down the stretch. It was a good win.”

BYU is now 8-0 heading into an 8 p.m. game at home against Boise State.