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Provo

Aspiring rapper TJ Fredette, who's the older brother of a basketball player you may have heard of by now, staged a brief show about 90 minutes before tipoff Wednesday night when the BYU student section at the Marriott Center already was filled in anticipation of the biggest game in the building's 40-season history.

The rest of the night was left to Jimmer F. and the Jimmerettes.

For all Jimmer Fredette's skills, on a display in front of another sellout crowd and a nationwide audience that is sure to keep growing, BYU was not going to win this game without just a little help — something, anything — from his backup singers.

So amid everything Fredette accomplished — scoring 43 points in the Cougars' 71-58 defeat of previously unbeaten San Diego State, personally keeping his team in the game for the first 28 minutes while delivering his usual array of remarkable shots — this sequence was equally stunning in its own way:

Fredette went nine minutes without scoring in the second half. And the Cougars actually gained some ground.

Jackson Emery, James Anderson and Noah Hartsock did all BYU's scoring in that 10-8 stretch, then Fredette secured the victory from the free-throw line.

Two ways to view this win:

• If BYU (20-1) expects to fulfill its postseason ambitions, such as becoming the school's first Sweet 16 qualifier in 30 years, Fredette will need a lot more help.

• The other guys are almost sure to score more in every other game than they did against the Aztecs, and their defense, rebounding and offensive assistance at just the right time were sufficient Wednesday, so that's a good sign.

For some perspective on those auxiliary contributions, consider that, other than forward Brandon Davies, the Jimmerettes were not of much help for a long, long stretch. Fredette scored BYU's last 15 points of the first half and Fredette (34) and Davies (14) delivered 48 of BYU's first 50 points.

"I was feeling pretty good … so I was just wanting to keep going," Fredette said.

"When he's hot like that, all we can do is crash the boards and keep getting him the ball," Davies said.

Fredette's flurry was topped by his toughest shot of the night, a 3-pointer delivered under pressure to beat the shot clock with 12:35 remaining, giving BYU a 50-46 lead.

"My teammates took over from there," Fredette said.

That's a relative expression, whenever Fredette is involved in a game, but it was sort of true.

Emery's steal and dunk then provided his first points of the night. Then came Anderson's layup and two inside baskets from Hartsock, with Emery's two free throws in between, while the Aztecs sent bigger defenders at Fredette.

"I think other guys knew that it was their turn and their time," said BYU coach Dave Rose.

When the game ended and Fredette's latest, greatest display was complete, BYU police officers soon understood exactly how San Diego State's players were feeling.

The best intentions of keeping BYU students from storming the court succeeded only about as well as the Aztecs' defensive effort. Eventually, Fredette broke free from his admirers long enough to shake his opponents' hands and later was escorted into the tunnel.

"It was a little crazy," Fredette said. "That's something I've never experienced … but it was a cool experience, just because I haven't had that happen."

He also described the scene as "a little scary," but not as frightening as what the Aztec defenders went through, trying to stop him.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.comTwitter: @tribkurt