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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Jimmy Balderson's 21 points led BYU to a 97-74 win over Lamar Wednesday night in the Delta Center.
The Cougars (3-1) built a 16-6 lead on the strength of three 3-pointers by Brock Reichner, Balderson and Lee Cummard. BYU hit four of seven 3-pointers in the opening half.
The Cardinals (1-4) stayed close through the first eight minutes, but BYU went on runs of seven and 10 points to capture a 36-19 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cougars managed their largest lead of the half at 44-23 when Keena Young hit a jumper with just over three minutes remaining.
The game was rescheduled to Salt Lake City, because Hurricane Rita forced the Texas school to alter its home schedule. BYU's Marriott Center was unavailable due to a Christmas show.
After trailing 48-35 at halftime, Lamar gave up a basket to Fernando Malaman to start the second half and then turned up the defensive pressure. Alan Daniels scored five straight points followed by a basket by Thomas Fairley to pull the Cardinals to 50-42.
BYU's Trent Plaisted answered with two baskets and a free throw to start a 12-0 Cougar run that ended with BYU holding a 62-42 lead. The Cardinals never challenged after that.
The Cougars' largest lead was 27 points at 88-61 and 90-63.
Daniels led all scorers with 23 points and was joined in double figures by Barrow with 18 and Fairley with 14. Daniels also had a game high nine rebounds.
BYU shot 66 percent in the first half and 57 percent for the game. The Cougars also shot 50 percent from beyond 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Lamar shot 41 percent.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
