BYU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
PARIS — Led by Trent Plaisted’s 22-point, 15-rebound performance, the BYU men’s basketball team opened its five-game tour of France Friday with a 90-68 victory over the Paris All-Stars.
Plaisted, a junior forward/center and MWC Player of the Year candidate this coming season, made 10-of-15 field goals in an efficient Cougar attack that converted 40-of-69 shots from the floor, a 58-percent success rate.
Junior guard Lee Cummard added 19 points and 10 boards on 8-of-11 shooting, and junior center Gavin McGregor was the third Cougar to record a double-double by contributing 11 points and 12 rebounds. Taking advantage of increased playing time, McGregor went 5-of-7 from the floor while helping BYU dominate the glass as six different Cougars grabbed at least five rebounds. McGregor averaged 1.2 points and 0.5 rebounds in 11 appearances last year in his first season as a Cougar.
BYU also got double-figure scoring production from sophomore forward Jonathan Tavernari and senior guard Sam Burgess with 18 and 11 points, respectively. Tavernari went 9-of-16 in his attempts while Burgess made half of his eight shots, including a team-best 3-for-5 accuracy from behind the three-point arc. Junior point guard Ben Murdock paced the team with six assists while Tavernari and Burgess each made three passes that set up a teammate’s basket.
After jumping out to an early 22-9 advantage, the Cougars never let the All-Stars, a local club team, get close the rest of the way. Paris AS cut the lead to 11 points in the second half, but BYU responded with a 10-0 scoring spurt to create a more comfortable margin that ultimately became 22 at the final horn.
All eight Cougars on the trip contributed in the win. Recently returned missionary Chris Miles, a sophomore forward/center, recorded six points and five rebounds in his first game action in two-plus years. Murdock scored a bucket to go with his six assists and six rebounds while senior point guard Chase Ulicny had one point, one assist and two rebounds.
The Cougars earned the victory in front of nearly 50 missionaries currently in Paris serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries were able to attend the afternoon game during their weekly preparation day set aside from their regular proselyting activities.
The team visited the Eiffel Tower and other sites in Paris prior to Friday’s game. BYU will play again today in Lyon, France, when it takes on Lyon BBC, a National 2 level team.
