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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Lee Cummard scored seven points during a 27-8 BYU run late in the first half that gave the Cougars a 17 point lead and helped them to an 86-61 victory over Southern Utah Saturday night.
Cummard's two free throws with 12:03 remaining in the first broke an 11-11 tie and gave the Cougars the lead for good. Cummard finished with nine points.
SUU's Esteban Bonzano and Rand Janes each hit 3-pointers just before the half to close the Cougar lead to 12, but that's as close as the Thunderbirds would get.
BYU began the second half with a 9-0 run as Rashaun Broadus hit a 3-pointer and Brock Reichner hit back-to-back 3-pointers on assists from Broadus.
The Cougar lead stretched as high as 32 points when Trent Plaisted, who led all scorers with 13 points, scored inside with 6:48 left to give BYU a 71-39 lead.
The Thunderbirds struggled all night from the field shooting 36 percent in the first half and then dropping to 25 percent in the second.
BYU dominated inside and out. The Cougars scored 31 points in the paint to the Thunderbirds' four. From the outside, BYU shot 65 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 59 percent overall, including 67 percent in the second half.
The Thunderbirds were able to get to the free-throw line in the second half where they shot 21 of 29 after attempting only two in the first half.
Joining Plaisted in double figures for the Cougars were Broadus and Reichner with 11 each and Emery Jackson with 10.
Janes led the Thunderbirds with 11 points and Henry Uhegwu chipped in 10.
Austin Ainge had eight assists for BYU.
BYU also dominated SUU on the boards with a 36-28 rebounding advantage for the game.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
