PROVO -- Kicking off the season on what BYU coach Dave Rose said is "one of the best homecourt advantages in college basketball" at the Marriott Center Friday night, the Cougars split up into the White and Blue squads to preview the season and give fans a show at the annual Cougar Tipoff.

"I honestly believe fans will come out and see a team who plays hard and is successful," added Coach Rose. "I think if this team plays to their potential they'll be a fun team to watch."

Returning junior Sam Burgess, the leading scorer on the White team, ended with a game-high 21 points. Burgess started and ended the first half with buckets, laying up the first two points of the game off a rebound and the last two of the half at the free-throw line. In between, Burgess brought in another eight points, going 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from behind the three-point line, leading the White team to a close 30-29 lead at the break. Freshman Trent Plaisted followed Burgess on White with six points, including a dunk fed by junior Austin Ainge. Junior Keena Young, also on White, led both teams under the hoop in the first half, bringing down eight rebounds, four from both ends of the court.

Freshman Jackson Emery and junior Fernanado Malaman made a good showing in the first half for Blue, leading their side with six points each and keeping their team in the game. Junior Rashaun Broadus and freshman Lee Cummard also brought in five points each for the Blue team.

The second half started with Young bringing in four fast points for White and forecasting the remainder of the half. Young added two more rebounds in the second period to finish with a double-double, 10 rebounds and 16 points, and a team-high four steals. Sam Burgess continued his hot shooting streak in the second half, finishing 7-for-12 from the field and 4-for-6 from behind the arc. Junior Mike Rose also caught fire in the second half to the White team's advantage, sinking three of his four treys and a jump shot to equal 11 points in the game.

Malaman followed Sam Burgess in scoring for the Blue team, bringing in 20 points while making four of his five three-point attempts in the second half. Freshman Emery and Cummard both finished with 10 points each. Redshirt freshman David Burgess, who recorded a game-high 11 rebounds, also stepped up for Blue in the second half, bringing in seven extra points, including a slam dunk for the final basket of the game. White finished with a 69-61 win, but both teams finished with Coach Rose's approval.

"We saw a lot of good things out there that tend to make us think we are on the right track," Coach Rose said. "It was a really competitive game."

BYU opens its exhibition season Friday when the Cougars host the University of Victoria at 7 p.m. in the Marriott Center.

Annual Event is Free to the Public

PROVO -- Cougar fans can get their first look at this season's BYU men's and women's basketball teams Friday at the annual Cougar Tipoff. Free to the public, Cougar Tipoff will take place in the Marriott Center, starting at 7 p.m.

"The event is free and seating is general admission so fans can come and get a good seat to meet this year's basketball teams," BYU Marketing Director Tony Jewkes said. "This is a great opportunity for fans to have some fun, see both teams play and hear from Coach Rose and Coach Judkins. The doors open at 6 p.m."

Cougar Tipoff features a full-length men's team scrimmage, a 15-minute women's team scrimmage, two-ball shooting contests, a slam-dunk exhibition and meet-the-team autograph signings with free team posters.

"Our guys are working hard to prepare for the season," BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose said. "We have a good core returning and some talented new players. I believe our fans will enjoy the style of basketball we will play. We will be aggressive and play with a lot of passion."

Coach Rose and women's coach Jeff Judkins will both address the crowd at Cougar Tipoff. After the team introductions, the two teams will participate in a two-ball shooting competition, teaming members from the men's and women's teams together similar to the NBA all-star weekend contest.

The men's team will then put on a dunk exhibition prior to Coach Rose splitting his squad into two teams for the first half of the scrimmage. At halftime, the women's team will play a 15-minute scrimmage. The men's team will then return for the second half of the blue-white contest. After the game, BYU players will meet with fans and sign autographs.

"We are looking forward to another exciting season," Judkins said. "We have a great group of girls who have worked really hard to get ready for the season. Our plans are to contend for the conference title and play in the postseason."