Jaxson Robinson scored a career-high 24 points, making six 3-pointers, while Spencer Johnson added a career-high 22 points to lead No. 19 BYU to an 85-56 victory over Fresno State on Friday night.
Johnson also had five assists and five rebounds for BYU (7-0), which has won won12 straight nonconference games dating back to last season — the program’s longest streak since 2011. The Cougars improved to 23-5 all time in games played at the Delta Center, the home arena for the Utah Jazz.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars guard Jaxson Robinson (2) makes a 3-point attempt over Fresno State Bulldogs center Enoch Boakye (13) as BYU plays Fresno State in NCAA basketball at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. BYU won 85-56.
Isaiah Hill led the Bulldogs with 14 points. Jalen Weaver added 10. Fresno State (3-4) suffered its third straight loss after trailing by double digits throughout most of the game.
The Bulldogs committed 21 turnovers leading to 36 points for BYU.
The Cougars rode a hot start from Johnson to carve out an early double-digit lead. Johnson, a senior guard, made five of his first six shots and scored 12 of BYU’s first 17 points. He hit a 3-pointer and made back-to-back layups to fuel a 11-0 run that gave BYU a 19-7 lead.
Climbing out of that early hole proved to be a chore for the Bulldogs. Fresno State played carelessly with the ball throughout the first half and struggled to generate much rhythm on offense. BYU took advantage, scoring 15 points off 11 turnovers before halftime.
The Cougars missed 10 of 11 shots late in the first half and scored a single basket over a seven-minute stretch. Fresno State could not erase the double-digit gap, however, and fell further behind after halftime.
BYU made four straight baskets as a part of an 11-2 run to push its lead to 49-28 early in the second half. Dallin Hall bookended the run with a 3-pointer and a layup.
The Cougars led by as many as 32 points in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Fresno State: Turnovers and prolonged scoring droughts were a major problem for the Bulldogs from the start and kept them from ever seriously threatening BYU.
BYU: The Cougars endured a few dry spells with their shooting but clamped down defensively to keep Fresno State from capitalizing on those droughts.
UP NEXT
Fresno State hosts Idaho State on Tuesday.
BYU hosts Evansville on Tuesday.