Fort Collins, Colo. » Jackson Emery can now stop teasing freshman Tyler Haws about Haws not wanting Emery to break the BYU single-season steals record because it was owned by Haws' father, Marty.

Emery picked up his 67th steal of the season on Wednesday night in the first half of BYU's 92-70 win over Colorado State -- don't tell anybody that he was assessed a turnover three seconds later for giving the ball right back -- to pass the 66 that Haws had in 1989-90.

"You know, it is a great achievement, because I pride myself on my defense, and especially my steals," said Emery, who also added 16 points, four rebounds and an assist.

He aggravated a thumb injury as well, hurting the already-swollen thumb on his right hand when he bit on a pump fake and crashed over the top of CSU's Dorian Green.

But the injury and the turnover will be quickly forgotten as Emery savors a record -- and adds to it in the coming games -- he first learned about just a few weeks ago.

"[Someone] told me I was coming up on Marty Haws' steals record. And I was joking with Ty [Haws] last game because Ty had four steals and I think two of those I tipped to him, and I was like, 'man, you don't want me to break your dad's steals record do you?'" Emery said.

The defensive milestone ironically came during a first half in which the Cougars' defense wasn't that great against Colorado State on Wednesday night. They committed 14 personal fouls in the first half, leading to 21 CSU free throws. Rams forward Travis Franklin was 8-for-14 from the line in the first half, then didn't go to the line at all in the second.

"They couldn't guard Travis," said CSU coach Tim Miles. "They were going to hack-a-Shaq on Travis because they couldn't guard him."

The Cougars finished with nine steals, with Jonathan Tavernari getting four to boost his season total to 34.

drew@sltrib.com