BYU ends AFA's inspired run

The Falcons set a record in Las Vegas by earning the first-ever AFA tournament win ever when they defeated Colorado State on Wednesday. They put on a gallant show against No. 1 seed BYU Thursday and some might even call it inspiring.

But in the end, it ended up jet fumes.

The Falcons had no answer for Jimmer Fredette’s antics, who hooked up with Jonathan Tavernari in taking control of this game and bombing the pilots out of the Thomas & Mack Thursday 80-69.

Fredette scored 21 points including 4 treys and Tavernari added another 4 bombs to lift the Cougars to a win that appeared bigger on paper than it was on the floor.

AFA players played their guts out, but Fredette led the Cougars on three big runs in the second half of 13-1, 10-1 and 9-3 as the Cougars outscored the Falcons 42-28 after trailing 41-38.

The Cougars now face the winner of UNLV and San Diego State, which will tip at 2:30 p.m. Las Vegas time.

Chris Miles, who had 11 points on 4 of 5 shots from the floor, had 11 boards and I thought his play proved key, especially in BYU’s big run to start the second half. His defense in erecting a wall inside the key to shut down AFA’s Anwar Johnson, who scored 16 points in the first half.

Lee Cummard added 16 points and 8 boards but had an “average” shooting game. Cummard was perfect (8 for from the line as the Cougars out-shot the Falcons 46 to 40 percent from the floor.

BYU started in a zone defense, a ploy they last tried against Utah because AFA changed its starting lineup and brought its shooters off the bench minutes into the game.

BYU got out-rebounded 16-10 in the first half but out-boarded the Falcons by 16 in the second half.

You have to give AFA respect. The Falcons ran their stuff and it was good. They also made big shots including 7 of 18 treys, which kept them in the game. But unlike BYU’s 3 for 22 shooting from beyond the arc in the last game, this time the Cougars made 9 of 22.

“That is a big, big difference,” said Dave Rose.

Also, the setting for this game, with the Cougars practically a lock for the NCAA, brought in to play the possibility of the Cougars playing this game with less intensity or sense of urgency after defeating the Falcons on Saturday.

That did not happen. BYU took AFA’s best shot and absorbed it. This was a big win for the Cougars because a loss would have given fodder to the selection committee to work in all kinds stuff on the board with the Cougars.