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New Mexico continues dominance of No. 3 BYU

Mar 3, 2011 - 8:43 AM Provo, UT (Sports Network) - New Mexico just has BYU's number.

Phillip McDonald scored 26 points and Drew Gordon posted 15 points and 16 rebounds, as the Lobos knocked off the third-ranked Cougars for the second time this season in authoritative fashion, 82-64, at the Marriott Center.

Kendall Williams also chipped in 15 points and Dairese Gary donated 11 points and five rebounds for the Lobos (19-11, 7-8 Mountain West), who have won two straight since a four-game skid.

BYU played its first game in the shadow of Brandon Davies' absence. The forward was dismissed from the team earlier this week for a violation of the school's honor code, and the Lobos took advantage, outrebounding the Cougars, 45-29, and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds.

Jimmer Fredette did his best to keep the game close, scoring 33 points, although he needed 26 shots to reach that number. Fredette also had six assists and five rebounds.

Jackson Emery was the only other Cougar in double figures with 11 points. BYU (27-3, 13-2) lost for the first time since January 29, another defeat at the hands of New Mexico. The Cougars also lost at home for the first time since February 27, 2010 -- a loss to none other than the Lobos.

The first half was a nightmare for the Cougars, who were immediately back on their heels against the aggressive Lobos. New Mexico scored the game's first six points and 13 of the first 15, capped by McDonald's three just over 3 1/2 minutes in. BYU trimmed the deficit to eight before the Lobos reeled off seven successive points, with Williams' three making the score 27-12.

Another scoring onslaught by the visitors, this time a nine-point run, opened a 40-21 lead. McDonald connected on another of his five treys to cap the stretch, and the Lobos took a 42-26 advantage into the locker room.

BYU came out of the gates strong in the second half, as Fredette buried a three from the right corner, and moments later connected from the foul line for a 44-31 game.

A three-point play by Charles Abouo nearly four minutes in sliced the deficit down to 48-37. That was as close as the Cougars got, though, as New Mexico didn't blink and racked up the next 11 points.

"On defense, we did what we wanted to do and on offense we made shots," New Mexico head coach Steve Alford said. "Every time they made a run, we answered it."

Jamal Fenton's three gave them a 59-37 lead, and New Mexico rolled to victory from there.

Game Notes

Fredette's three in the early minutes of the second half was his only one of the game. He finished 1-of-9 from long range, and the Cougars made just 5- of-26 overall...BYU made just 8-of-30 shots in the first half and connected on 34 percent overall...New Mexico made 9-of-20 three-pointers.