Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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When Lee Cummard takes the floor versus Air Force, he will tie a record that has stood for 14 years and was set by my good friend and broadcast partner Mark Durrant.
Cummard's start on "Senior Night" will mark his 128th consecutive game played, sharing the mark set by Durrant in 1995. The BYU record for total games played is 129, and belongs to Nate Call and Russ Larson, who joins Mark and me courtside for home games as a statistician. Cummard will break the former record and tie the latter mark when he steps on the floor in the Cougars' quarterfinal game at the conference tournament. The ensuing game will leave Cummard all alone at the top of BYU's two "Ironman" charts.
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It's only slightly ironic that one of BYU's lankiest and most angular players be known as the Cougars' alltime most durable player. Cummard has never required an overly muscular frame to play the game--indeed his talents as an all-around court master seem to suit his build. What he may lack in weight, he makes up for in strength. What he may be missing in mass, he makes up for with toughness.
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Lee Cummard is a one-of-a-kind talent who tomorrow will surpass another uniquely gifted individual for a lasting spot in Cougar basketball annals. With five points, he will move ahead of Kresimir Cosic for 10th place on the alltime BYU scoring list.
It should be noted that Cosic scored his 1,512 points in only three seasons--his 19.4 ppg career scoring average (over only 78 games) ranks behind only Danny Ainge (20.9) and Devin Durrant (19.5).
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In the NCAA stats updated after Thursday play, BYU (49.4%) drops to #3 nationally in field goal percentage, trailing UCLA and Utah State.
BYU is also in the top 25 in:
assist/turnover ratio (5)
scoring margin (8)
three point fg% defense (10)
assists (12)
turnovers per game (16)
scoring offense (22)
three-point field goal percentage (24)
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Among individuals in the national top 50 rankings, Jackson Emery is 7th in assist/turnover ratio.
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Saturday opponent Air Force is not in the top 25 in any national categories. Notably, the Falcons are 44th in scoring defense and 321st in scoring offense.
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