GAME NOTES: Aiming for just their second win away from home this season, the BYU Cougars hit the floor at Moby Arena tonight to do battle with the Colorado State Rams in a Mountain West Conference showdown. On Tuesday night, the Cougars bounced back from an unexpected loss to UNLV on the road by taking out the Wyoming Cowboys at home in the Marriott Center, 89-81. The victory ran BYU's home win streak to 26 in a row, good for second longest in the nation. As for the Rams, they were on the road in Texas on Wednesday night where they defeated the TCU Horned Frogs in a 66-54 outing. The victory was the third in the last four games and lifted the program to 3-2 in conference play. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Cougars lead by a count of 80-45 after sweeping the season series a year ago. The most recent victory for BYU came at home in the Marriott Center by a score of 77-69 on March 1, 2006.

Keena Young established a new career high with 29 points in the win over Wyoming earlier this week at home in Provo. Young, who also added a team-high 10 rebounds, converted 9-of-16 shots from the field and 11-of-12 at the free- throw line. Trent Plaisted added 15 points, Austin Ainge 13 and Jonathan Tavernari 10 and six rebounds in just 12 minutes off the bench. Young, who is playing just under 28 minutes per game, is shooting 54.5 percent from the field for the program and is also pulling down 6.8 rpg, which is second only to the 7.0 rpg by Plaisted (11.4 ppg). While Plaisted is the only other double-digit scorer for the unit at the moment, his 50.3 percent accuracy from the floor is being overshadowed by his disappointing 50.5 percent effort at the charity stripe. Although neither of the two top scorers for the team has even attempted a three-point shot yet in 2006-07, the team as a whole is making 40.1 percent from the perimeter, compared to only 32.4 percent for the competition.

Stuart Creason recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, adding a game-high six blocked shots, as he helped push the Rams to the 12-point win over TCU on Wednesday night. Tim Denson was actually the high scorer for the visitors with 17 points, followed by Stephan Gilling with 11 points as the pair combined to account for eight of the team's 22 turnovers. Colorado State won the game at the free-throw line where it outscored the Horned Frogs, 24-12. Jason Smith continues to pace the team in scoring with his 16.6 ppg, one of four players hitting for double figures after 17 games, and is also the leader on the glass with 9.5 boards per outing as well. Creason (11.1 ppg) is now shooting 65.7 percent from the field, is second in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and first with 38 blocked shots. Because of the efforts of Smith (31 blocked shots) and Creason opponents are being limited to just 29.9 rpg this season. Now, if only the pair could extend their efforts out to the three-point line where foes have converted just under 40 percent of their chances.

BYU has been untouchable at home for quite some time now, but out on the road it is a different story. However, as long as Plaisted can play an active role in the paint, along with Young, then the Cougars have a fighting shot at a minor upset.