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Provo • The No. 7 BYU Cougars are better than double-digit favorites to beat the Mountain West Conference's third-place Colorado State on Wednesday night at the Marriott Center (6 p.m., The Mtn.), but there's another number that has troubled coach Dave Rose as his team has prepared for the key MWC contest.

Eighty-five.

That's how many points the Rams (18-8, 8-4 MWC) scored against BYU in the last meeting on Jan. 22 in Fort Collins, and although the Cougars won that game by nine in front of a sellout crowd at Moby Arena, Rose said it was unacceptable. The only other times BYU has given up more points than that this season, it lost, 86-77 to New Mexico and 86-79 to UCLA.

"Defensively, we need to be better," Rose said Monday. "There were a lot of things they did to us to kind of spread us out, which allowed them to get some pretty good shots at the basket. So we are going to work on those things."

Since giving up 86 to New Mexico on Jan. 29, the Cougars have not allowed an opponent to score more than 64 points while racking up five straight wins. Playing a bit more zone than usual, they've held their last three opponents under 60.

"I think defensively we've been better. We changed things up a little bit. We are playing a little bit more zone. I think [with] our man matchups, guys are doing a much better job of their individual responsibility with their man," Rose said. "We don't have to bring a second defender as much. But it is still going to be tough. We are playing three of the best teams in the league in this next little stretch. So we are going to have to be good on both ends of the floor."

As Rose mentioned, Round II with the Rams begins a wicked stretch for the Cougars in which they play the league's third-best team, then travel to No. 4 San Diego State on Saturday before facing the Lobos again the middle of next week.

Meanwhile, the 27-1 Aztecs have a midweek bye and have been resting and preparing all week for the 25-2 Cougars.

Colorado State is extra-dangerous, BYU guard Jackson Emery said, because it is on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid.

drew@sltrib.comTwitter: @drewjay —

Colorado State at No. 7 BYU

P At the Marriott Center, Provo

Tipoff • 6 p.m.

TV • The Mtn.

Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM

Records • BYU 25-2, 10-1; CSU 18-8, 8-4

Series history • BYU leads 89-46

Last meeting • BYU, 94-85 (Jan. 22)