Feb. 5, 2005

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS (AP) Sophomore guard Jimmy Balderson scored a career-high 23 points to lead BYU over UNLV 82-72 in overtime Saturday.

Trailing 61-60 with 5.6 seconds left in regulation, Balderson made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt from the top of the arc. After the free throws, UNLV's Jerel Blassingame (9 points, 5 assists) forced overtime, scoring a running layup with 0.8 seconds left. In overtime for BYU (8-14, 2-5 Mountain West), Austin Ainge scored 12 of his 19 points. Ainge, who had five assists for the game, scored the first five Cougar points in the extra session.

Also for the Cougars, who won their second road game this season, Mike Hall added 16 points and Keena Young had 10. For UNLV (9-10, 2-5), senior forward Odartey Blankson had a career-and game-high 33 points along with a game-high 13 rebounds. Blankson also was 10-of-10 from the foul line. Dustin Villepigue added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Rebels. In the second half before the final seconds, there were six lead changes and three ties before UNLV, which was 3-of-17 from 3-point range for the game, built two seven-point leads, the last at 61-54 with 3:26 left.

For the game, the Cougars shot 24-of-59 from the field, while the Rebels were 25-of-64. The Cougars jumped to an 8-2 lead to start the game and led for most of the first half. But the Rebels retook the lead at 23-22 with 5:32 until halftime. BYU tied it at 25-25, but UNLV went on an 8-2 run to end the half. Both teams struggled in the first half from 3-point range.