Basketball chalks up another win

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    By AARON SHILL

    The BYU basketball team had one last chance to scrap it out during Thursday night’s Varsity Preview at the Marriott Center.

    Led by the scoring of sophomore Nathan Cooper and freshman Mark Bigelow, the blue team outran the white for a 70-46 victory in an intrasquad game.

    Cooper led all scorers, ringing up 19 points on some strong drives to the hoop and a pair of 3-pointers. But it was Bigelow who had the hot hand early, draining three first-half 3-pointers and finishing with 17 points.

    Following the game, head coach Steve Cleveland said Bigelow’s versatility and court sense will be an asset to the team.

    “He just has a good feel of how to play the game,” said Cleveland.

    Bigelow’s long-range jumpers led the blue to a 37-24 halftime lead. Freshman point guard Michael Vranes then helped widen the gap in the second half by pushing the ball up the court for a number of fast break points.

    “When I get up and down the court, it opens up the offense,” Vranes said.

    After three weeks of practice, the team will finally have some competition as the California All-Stars visit the Marriott Center for an exhibition game Saturday at 7 p.m.

    The Cougars, however, were shorthanded Thursday as three players watched from the bench. Junior forward Silester Rivers sat out with a knee injury, while senior guard Brian Hamilton was sidelined with back problems. Sophomore Todd Christensen was also on the shelf with the flu.

    Rivers will sit at least three weeks, while Hamilton is out indefinitely. Christensen said he will be ready to play Saturday.

    The absence of Rivers left a noticeable hole in the team’s interior defense. Cleveland said the team will have to compensate for its lack of size with hard-nosed play.

    “It’s a competitive group,” he said. “We just don’t have the size inside like we need to have.”

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