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BYU-Air Force Preview

Jan 12, 2010 - 9:51 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Brigham Young (16-1) at Air Force (8-7), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Jimmer Fredette's scoring has played a large role in getting BYU into the Top 25. Strong depth, though, is helping the Cougars remain there.

Fredette may miss his second straight game as the 18th-ranked Cougars try to extend an 11-game winning streak in a Mountain West Conference matchup with Air Force on Wednesday night.

Fredette (mononucleosis) has missed two of three games since scoring a team-record 49 points in a 99-69 win over Arizona on Dec. 28. His status for Wednesday is uncertain.

The junior guard played against UNLV last Wednesday night but was limited to seven points in 25 minutes of a 77-73 win. At that time, Fredette thought he was dealing with strep throat and an allergic reaction to medication.

Fredette didn't attempt to play against UTEP on Saturday night as the Cougars shot 54.9 percent in an 83-77 victory.

BYU (16-1, 1-0) climbed seven spots in the poll Monday after entering the Top 25 for the first time this season the previous week. This is the highest the Cougars have been ranked since they were No. 2 following a 17-0 start in 1987-88.

Fredette has been BYU's catalyst offensively, averaging 20.7 points and 5.3 assists. Freshman Tyler Haws and senior Jonathan Tavernari stepped up against the Miners, scoring 20 and 19 points, respectively.

The Cougars lead the MWC in scoring with 84.5 points per game and 3-point shooting at 42.4 percent.

"You don't really know where the scoring is going to come from," coach Dave Rose said.

Haws matched his career high, first set in a 110-104 win over Nevada on Dec. 22. The guard is averaging 14.1 points and shooting 48.0 percent (12 for 25) from 3-point range over his last 11 games.

"I just treat every game the same," he said.

Tavernari's role in the offense has been scaled back this season, but he's averaging 17.0 points during his last three games. The forward had 19 points and 11 rebounds in an 80-69 victory over Air Force in the MWC tournament quarterfinals March 12.

It was the Cougars' eighth straight win over the Falcons (8-7, 0-2), holding them to 55.9 points and 39.1 percent shooting during that stretch. BYU leads the series 50-12.

Air Force doesn't appear to be in any position to end its skid in this series. The Falcons are averaging 50.9 points en route to dropping 18 straight MWC regular-season games.

With three starters out due to injuries, Air Force may be headed to another tough season in conference play.

Leading scorer Grant Parker (groin strain), Sammy Schafer (concussion) and Taylor Stewart (broken hand) were all out of the lineup in a 70-48 loss to Colorado State on Saturday night.

Parker, averaging 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds, has missed eight straight games and is out indefinitely.

Schafer, who remains bothered by headaches, has been out the last 12 games. Stewart has missed the last four and isn't expected back until at least the middle of February.