This post is also feature on the SB Nation conference tournament page.
Yet another game that saw the higher seed struggle early on this game. At the half TCU was able to lead the Cougars and keep that lead through five minutes of the second half. Then BYU's Jimmer Fredette took over and scored 30 of his 45 points in the second half. This was BYU's 29th win on the year which broke a school record that stood for 60 years.
Two Mountain West records were set today by Jimmer Fredette which were for most points in a tournament game with his 45, the previous record was set in 2002 by Utah's Lou Kelly who had 30 points. The other record was for free throw percentage where Fredette went 23 for 24 while crushing the previous record held by Ricky Morgan who made 18 of 19 in 2005.
TCU's head coach Jim Christian had no answer to stop Fredette in the second half:
"Obviously, in the second half Jimmer took over the game. He's a great player. It's difficult because we tried everything we could do. You trap him, the other guys, they hit so many timely shots as a team. It's hard to take out one guy, especially when he can pass the ball and the other guys can play."
The only other player to score in double figures for BYU was Jackson Emery who ended up with 15 points and seven boards. TCU's performance was much better then their 30 point loss in the season finale last week, and they ended up having five players score in double figures. They were just unable to keep up with Jimmer Fredette.
The win for BYU puts them in the semifinals against UNLV.