DENVER – Stopping The Jimmer? As the poster in the stands said, “Fredette about it.”

Wofford used about every combination of defense imaginable Thursday night but still got “Jimmered.”

Jimmer Fredette, the nation’s leading scorer, dropped in 32 points to lead third-seeded Brigham Young to a 74-66 victory over the 14th-seeded Terriers in the NCAA men’s tournament Southeast Regional.

Fredette went 10 for 25, made 12 trips to the free-throw line and added seven assists to help the Cougars win their school-record 31st game.

The Terriers (21-13) lost in the first round for the second straight year, but as they did in a four-point loss to Wisconsin in 2010, they gave BYU (31-4) quite a game. The Cougars played with a six- or eight-point lead for most of the second half and never turned it into the blowout many of these 3 vs. 14 matchups can be.

While Fredette forced his share of shots and only went 2 for 9 from 3-point range, Wofford didn’t live up to its billing, either. The eighth-best 3-point shooting team in the country went 4 for 19 from behind the arc.

Outside of post player Noah Dahlman, who went 6 for 10 en route to 22 points, none of the key players in the Wofford lineup came close to making half their shots. Jamar Diggs got his 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting. Cameron Rundles went 1 for 9 from 3-point range and had 11 points.

Fredette spent most of the night with Diggs in his face, occasionally aided by a big man who would pop out to trap.

Fredette’s favorite play in the second half was driving left to the hoop, then switching to his right hand for a layup. He did that on two straight possessions to give BYU a 49-41 lead.

The teams traded baskets for a while, then Wofford went on a three-minute dry spell during which BYU extended the lead to 65-51, with Charles Abouo doing most of the damage.

He scored eight of his 10 points in that stretch and gave the Cougars something they’ll need to go far in the tournament: a compliment to Fredette now that BYU doesn’t have Brandon Davies, its leading rebounder and third-leading scorer.

Davies was suspended earlier this month for violating the school’s honor code.

 

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