PROVO, Utah — Trent Plaisted scored 20 points to lead Brigham Young to a 76-57 win over Air Force on Saturday night.
BYU (23-6, 12-2 Mountain West) improved its home-court winning streak to 46 games, the longest active streak in the nation. The Cougars also have won 11 of 12 in the Mountain West to maintain their slim lead over UNLV at the top of the conference.
Air Force (14-13, 6-8) struggled from the floor, shooting 32 percent for the game and 25 percent in the second half. The Falcons, who normally shoot 38 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, were 1-of-12 for the game.
The Cougars scored the final six points of the first half and the first 10 points of the second half to push a 26-24 lead in the first half to 42-24 with 17:20 remaining in the game. Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds received a technical foul following a Plaisted dunk, giving Lee Cummard two free throws to cap the Cougars’ 16-0 run.
After the Falcons broke their scoring drought with a basket by Evan Washington, the Cougars went on another run, this time 25-3, to push the lead to 57-29 with 10:44 remaining.
In the first half, BYU jumped out to a 9-1 lead on the strength of six quick points by Plaisted, but Air Force fought back to tie the game at 14-14 with 11:12 remaining in the half on a basket by Anwar Johnson.
The Cougars shot 49 percent for the game, including 55 percent from beyond the 3-point line. Jonathan Tavernari and Cummard scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Cougars.
Andrew Henke led Air Force with 14 points and was the only Falcon in double figures.
AIR FORCE (14-13, 6-8 MWC)
Anderson 4-13 1-2 9, Holland 1-4 0-0 2, Washington 3-9 2-2 9, Johnson 1-3 3-6 5, Maren 0-0 0-0 0, Henke 3-11 8-10 14, Hood 1-5 4-4 6, Brown 2-4 2-2 6, Brooks 1-2 0-0 2, Kenzik 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 17-54 22-28 57.
BYU (23-6, 12-2)
Burgess 3-3 0-0 9, Murdock 1-5 0-0 3, Cummard 2-6 5-6 10, Plaisted 7-11 6-9 20, Tavernari 4-8 2-2 12, Loyd Jr. 2-3 0-0 6, Rose 0-1 0-1 0, Martineau 0-2 0-0 0, Fredette 4-6 0-0 10, Collinsworth 1-5 0-0 2, Miles 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 26-53 13-18 76.
Halftime — BYU 32-24. 3-point goals — Air Force 1-12 (Washington 1-2, Brown 0-1, Hood 0-1, Brooks 0-1, Anderson 0-2, Holland 0-2, Henke 0-3), BYU 11-20 (Burgess 3-3, Fredette 2-2, Loyd Jr. 2-3, Tavernari 2-4, Cummard 1-1, Murdock 1-3, Martineau 0-1, Rose 0-1, Collinsworth 0-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Air Force 35 (Henke 8), BYU 38 (Cummard 8). Assists — Air Force 7 (Henke 3), BYU 21 (Murdock 4). Total fouls — Air Force 15, BYU 20. Technical — Air Force Bench. A — 17,427.
