BYU Seeks Second Win Wednesday When it Hosts Southern Utah

PROVO -- After opening the season with a 91-62 win over UC Riverside Saturday, BYU faces Southern Utah University (1-1) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Marriott Center. The game will be broadcast on KSL Newsradio 1160 AM..

Cougars Seek a First in Cleveland Era

BYU has opened each of its three seasons under coach Steve Cleveland with a win but is still seeking its first 2-0 start in the Cleveland era. The Cougars defeated San Diego State on the road in Cleveland's first game at the Cougar helm, 73-59, but then was blown out at home by Washington, 78-49, in their second game of the 1997-98 season. Last year, BYU opened at home with a 73-67 win over Wofford College before losing on close game on the road at Weber State, 83-80. This year BYU plays its first two games at home and will be seeking its first 2-0 start under Cleveland after its 29-point opening win against UC Riverside.

Scouting Southern Utah

Three starters (Jim Faulkner, 6-6 guard, Tyson Hancock, 6-7 forward, and Jeff Monaco, 6-0 point guard) return from last year's 13-17 Southern Utah team. The Thunderbirds lost team MVP Tarvish Felton and its leading scorer and rebounder Kenyatta Clyde and have added freshman center Nate Bloom, Southern Utah's first seven-footer in a decade, UVSC transfers John Wheeler (6-10 center), B.J. Chandler (6-7 forward) and Justin Sant (6-2 guard); along with Dixie College transfer Fred House (6-5 guard/forward). House leads the Thunderbirds in scoring after two games with a 15.5 average, followed by Hancock at 13.0 and Wheeler at 10.0. All three players are averaging at least five rebounds per game. Monaco and Sant are adding nine and eight points, respectively, from the guard line with Monaco dishing out nine assists per game. As a team, SUU is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 30 percent on threes. From the charity stripe, they are shooting 63 percent. Southern Utah opened with a home win against Western State University, 96-78, before losing to Sacramento State on the road Monday, 65-58. House had 18 points against Western and 13 points and 10 rebounds against Sacramento.

Series Record

This will be the third meeting between the two schools from Utah and the first meeting that was not part of the Cougar Classic. The Cougars have a 2-0 lead in the series with Cougar Classic wins in 1992 (108-62) and 1994 (82-67). Last year the Thunderbirds played in the Cougar Classic but did not face BYU.

Quick Facts

BYU Head Coach: Steve Cleveland

Record at BYU: 21-37 (3rd year)

Overall Div. I record: Same

Southern Utah Head Coach: BIll Evans

Record at Southern Utah: 98-105 (8th year)

Overall Div. I record: Same

Series Record: BYU leads 2-0

Game Time: 7:05 p.m. MST

Broadcast Plans

Radio:

Network: KSL Newsradio 1160 AM

Air Time: 6:30 p.m. MST

Play-by-play: Greg Wrubell

Color: Mark Durrant

Back to the Pac

After playing the toughest schedule in the conference last year which included four Pac-10 schools, BYU will return to the Pac-10 battles in its next game against Arizona in Tucson Dec. 1. The Cougars lost to the Wildcats in Provo last year in overtime, 78-74. BYU will also play Arizona State at home Dec. 7 after a Dec. 4 road game at Denver.