HONOLULU (ABC-4 Sports) - BYU head coach Dave Rose became the fastest coach in program history to 100 wins, leading the Cougars to an 83-65 win over the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors on Friday.
"We wanted to play this game early in the season because we knew it would be a good test to see how we would respond on the road," said BYU head coach Dave Rose. "The way you win championships is by winning on the road."
Jimmer Fredette scored at least 20 points for the third-straight game, finishing with 20 points (9-of-14), a season-high eight assists, two steals and a block. Jonathan Tavernari rebounded from a slow start to the season, adding 17 points, five rebounds and two steals.
"It was a struggle to find my rhythm," Tavernari said. "I had a better rhythm and was wide open. I give all the credit in the world to my teammates. Their penetration created shots for me."
BYU (3-0) blew the game open with a hot start coming out of halftime, turning a ten-point lead into 18 points in less than five minutes. The Cougars quickly went on a 13-0 run, jumping out to a lead from which the Rainbow Warriors could never recover.
The Cougar bench provided a spark, scoring 23 points as a unit including 19 in the first half. Freshman Brandon Davies scored six while Michael Loyd, Jr., hit a pair of treys.
Noah Hartsock again capitalized on the minutes given to him, grabbing seven rebounds to go with five points, a steal and a blocked shot.
"You play 26 minutes and get seven rebounds, you're doing a really good job for your team," Rose said of his sophomore forward.
The Cougars shot 56 percent from the field as a team while keeping control of the ball with a season-low ten turnovers.
On the defensive end, BYU forced Hawai'i (2-2) into 20 giveaways, turning the turnovers into 32 points. Dwain Williams, Hawai'i's leading scorer averaging 17.7 ppg, was held scoreless by the Cougars, shooting 0-of-5 from the field.
BYU will look to stay perfect while extending its eight-game home win streak, returning home for a first-ever meeting with Southern at the Marriott Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
