OKLAHOMA CITY — Of the eight teams sent to Oklahoma City for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette was the leading scorer.
At 21.7 points per game, the junior guard from Glens Falls, N.Y. had lit the Mountain West Conference. Most outsiders believed the Cougars to be a one-man team.
But sophomore Michael Loyd Jr. proved otherwise. Fredette and Loyd combined for 63 points and BYU knocked off Florida 99-92 in double overtime at the Ford Center Thursday.
The Cougars will play No. 2 seed Kansas State Saturday with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
“I’m really proud of our players,” BYU coach Dave Rose said. “Though it was a really hard fought game. You get a double overtime win, and it makes you feel that much better.”
The Gators had chances to win at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Each time their shots were off.
BYU didn’t allow a third opportunity. Fredette drained two deep 3-pointers and Loyd another as the Cougars romped through the second overtime.
Fredette led everybody with 37 points. But the 6-1, 170-pound guard from Las Vegas, Lloyd, was the shocker.
With BYU struggling offensively, Loyd came off the bench and lit a fire under the Cougars. With BYU trailing 28-21 in first half Loyd scored 10 consecutive points in less than three minutes and BYU led 35-33. All of this after averaging less than 5 points during the season.
“We played a game as it comes,” Loyd said. “The ball just happened to be in my hands, I happened to have a lane or an open shot. I just wanted to come and be a spark and help our team win.”
BYU coach Dave Rose said earlier in the season, when Fredette was forced to miss time with mono, Loyd stepped in to fill the role. That prepared him for the tournament.
“This team has been through a lot,” Rose said. “Mike has actually benefited from a lot of the struggles Jimmer had. He had 18 points in the first half against Utah.”
In the first overtime, Loyd scored six straight points to send the game into double OT. Loyd and Fredette scored all but two of the Cougars’ points in the final period.
Loyd finished with a season high 26 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 9--of-10 free throws. He also tallied four steals and helped shut down the Gators backcourt.
“When teams game plan for Jimmer, you need guys like Mike,” Rose said. “He was ready.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
