Plaisted powers No. 20 BYU past Weber State

PROVO, Utah — With a big game against Michigan State looming, it was perfect timing for a Brigham Young letdown. Trent Plaisted wouldn’t let that happen.

Plaisted scored 14 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked five shots to overcome a slow start on offense and lead No. 20 BYU past Weber State 72-57 on Wednesday.

Sam Burgess and Jonathan Tavernari scored five points each during a balanced 22-6 first-half run that opened a commanding 19-point lead.

Burgess finished with a game-high 16 points for BYU (7-1), which won its 35th straight home game, the second-longest home winning streak in the country.

Tavernari, a former Bishop Gorman High School standout, and Lee Cummard added 14 points apiece for BYU.

“Trent was phenomenal, Lee was steady and Sam gave us a big boost of energy in the second half,” Cougars coach Dave Rose said.

Weber State (2-5) dropped to 0-17 at the Marriott Center. The series began in 1973.

BYU now can get back to playing highly ranked teams. The Cougars beat then-No. 6 Louisville on Nov. 23 and lost to No. 1 North Carolina in Las Vegas the next day after leading much of the game.

The Cougars play No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday for their third game against a team ranked in the top 10 in 13 days.

• Utah 72, Utah State 48 — At Salt Lake City, Luke Nevill had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the Utes (5-2) scored the first 11 points of the game to cruise past the Aggies (5-5).

It was the biggest victory for Utah over its state rival since a 35-point win in 1999.

• Colorado State 44, Denver 40 — At Fort Collins, Colo., Marcus Walker scored 13 points and Josh Simmons made three free throws in the final seconds to lead the Rams (5-3) past the Pioneers (3-3).

• Southern Methodist 71, Texas Christian 65 — At Dallas, Derrick Roberts scored 18 points to help lead the Mustangs (3-4) past the Horned Frogs (4-3).