Jimmer Fredette bails out BYU again with late go-ahead three
One night after Jimmer Fredette set up forward Noah Hartsock's buzzer-beating baseline jumper to beat South Florida, BYU's star guard decided to put his team's fate in his own hands this time.
Trailing Saint Mary's by a point late in the title game of the South Padre Island Invitational, Fredette pulled up from a few feet to the right of the top of the key and added to his legend. His go-ahead 23-footer with 10 seconds left enabled BYU to hold off previously undefeated Saint Mary's for a 74-73 victory.
"Jimmer made two great plays in these two games," coach Dave Rose told BYUCougars.com. "He is making big shots and everyone else is playing well."
If Saturday's back-and-forth classic is what we can expect from future BYU-St. Mary's matchups, then this could develop into a fun series once the Cougars join the Gaels in the WCC next season. The lead changed hands eight times in the final 15:19, culminating with Fredette's pull-up three-pointer.
Fredette scored 56 points in BYU's two games in South Padre Island, raising his scoring average to 24.8 points per game so far this season. The victory over Saint Mary's marked the fifth time in six games the senior guard has eclipsed 20 points.
