If BYU’s going to beat San Diego State for a third time this season, the Cougars will need to turn it up at the Mountain West Conference Tournament final in Las Vegas: they trail the Aztecs, 43-31, at halftime. And Jimmer Fredette isn’t exactly improving on his 52-point night in the semifinals, despite his best efforts.
Mountain West Basketball Championship 2011: San Diego State Up On BYU, Jimmer Fredette At Halftime
Fredette has 16 points through halftime, but has been hampered time and again by the Aztecs’ lanky defenders, making just five of 14 shots. He’s still BYU’s best option, though: the rest of the Cougars are shooting even worse from the field, and Fredette split two defenders for a buzzer-beating three that was waved off on the last possession, so his shotmaking skills are still intact.
San Diego State's been able to limit BYU and Fredette in transition and work the ball inside on offense. A three by Kawhi Leonard with less than a minute to go came on a typically great Aztec possession: D.J. Gay soared to prevent a tall cross-court pass from going out of bounds and saved it to Leonard — just beyond a lunging Jackson Emery — who drained the triple.
Leonard has 11 points for San Diego State. Billy White leads the Aztecs with 16 points.
For more on the Mountain West Conference Tournament, including Jimmer Fredette’s 52-point explosion in the semifinals, check out SB Nation Denver.
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