Lawless Republic
Fansided

Team Fredette rolls into semifinals with balanced attack

By Shaun Gordon

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 24: A Brigham Young Cougars fan holds up a sign supporting Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars prior to their game against the Florida Gators during the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 24: A Brigham Young Cougars fan holds up a sign supporting Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars prior to their game against the Florida Gators during the Southeast regional of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at New Orleans Arena on March 24, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Team Fredette played their most dominant game so far in The Basketball Tournament, using a balanced effort to blow out top-seeded Scarlet & Grey.

This time, Jimmer Fredette didn’t need to score 41 points.

A balanced attack by No. 2 seed Team Fredette took down No. 1 seed Scarlet & Grey 100-78. With the win, they’ll advance to the semifinals of The Basketball Tournament on Thursday night.

Unlike previous games, Jimmer’s team didn’t fall behind big early on. The first quarter was tight, with Team Fredette taking a 21-17 lead at the end of the period after Jimmer hit a stepback jumper at the buzzer.

The lead kept growing from there. Scarlet & Grey never took led again, trailing 51-40 at halftime.

Team Fredette outscored the Ohio State alumni again in the third quarter, extending their lead to 76-63 going into the final period.

By the time the Elam Ending took effect with just under four minutes left on the clock, Jimmer’s team sat comfortably ahead 93-74, and the target score was set to 100. Jordon Crawford’s three pointer hit that target for Team Fredette, sending them to the semifinal in Baltimore.

Six different players played at least 20 minutes for Team Fredette, and five of them scored in double-figures.

Jimmer led all scoring with 28 points on 10-17 shooting. More importantly, he initiated the ball movement, finishing with a game-high seven assists and added four rebounds.

Former BYU star Brandon Davies also had a big game, scoring 15 points, with four rebounds and three steals added in.

Jack Cooley, a former Utah Jazz player, finished with 16 points and led the team with seven rebounds.

Ra’Shad James also poured in 16 points, and Jordon Crawford added 13, including the game-winning shot.

Another former Cougar, Charles Abouo, scored two points and added a rebound in limited minutes.

For Scarlet & Grey, David Lighty led the team with 16 points, and former NBA big man Jared Sullinger added 12 points and eight boards. Greg Oden, the first pick in the 2007 NBA draft, played nine minutes and finished with two points, a rebound, and an assist.

Team Fredette will have a few days off before their next game, which they’ll travel to Baltimore for. They’ll play No. 7 seed Eberlein Drive on Thursday night at The Fieldhouse at Morgan State University. The game tips off at 7:00pm MT, and fans can catch the action on ESPN.

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