Jan 16, 2003

Box Score

PROVO, Utah (AP) - Rafael Araujo scored 22 points and added 15 rebounds as BYU beat UNLV 85-77 Thursday night in the Mountain West opener for both schools.

Mark Bigelow had 21 points and Travis Hansen added 20 for the Cougars, who withstood a furious comeback sparked by Marcus Banks.

BYU (12-4) extended the nations longest homecourt winning streak to 44 games. The loss snapped UNLV's five-game winning streak.

UNLV (11-3) was led by Dalron Johnson with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Banks added 16 points and Demetrius Hunter scored 10.

Araujo made 10-of-15 shots and recorded his fifth double-double in seven games. He played the final 8:23 with four fouls.

BYU held Banks, UNLV's leading scorer, to four points for the games first 35 minutes. But Banks scored 12 points in the final five minutes and the Rebels cut the Cougars lead to five on two free throws by Johnson with 2:33 to play.

Jermaine Lewis missed a 3-pointer from the corner that would have cut the lead to three with 1:36 left.

The Cougars made seven-of-eight free throws to close out the victory.

The Rebels made 23-of-24 free throws.

Bigelow made four-of-five 3-point attempts in the first half and scored 16 points as BYU took a 43-33 halftime lead. Three of Bigelow's treys came in a three-minute stretch that resulted in 11-2 run for a 28-16 BYU lead.

But Johnson countered with eight points in the final six minutes of the half to keep the Rebels close.

Bigelow made four 3-pointers for the third time this season. He finished the game with 140 career treys, one short of the BYU record set by Andy Toolson.