Jaxson Robinson scored a career-high 28 points off the bench as No. 18 BYU rebounded from its first loss of the season with a convincing 90-74 victory over Denver on Wednesday in Provo, Utah.
Robinson, a senior, shot 8 of 16 from 3-point range. Noah Waterman added 20 points and 14 rebounds while Spencer Johnson contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double for the Cougars (9-1).
BYU came out on top after falling to in-state rival Utah 73-69 on Saturday.
Jaxon Brenchley scored 21 points and Tommy Bruner added 15 as Denver (6-5) lost its second consecutive game to a ranked team. The Pioneers fell 90-80 at then-No. 13 Colorado State on Dec. 6, when Bruner scored 28 points and made four 3-pointers.
Bruner, who entered among the highest scorers in the country at 24.0 points per game, was 0 of 6 from 3-point range on the night and scored just four points in the first half.
BYU never trailed, opening a 20-10 lead just under nine minutes into the game. A 9-2 run to close the first half put the Cougars up 45-25 at the break as Robinson went 4 of 8 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes.
The Cougars led by as many as 27 points on two occasions in the second half.
BYU shot 50 percent from the field and had a 43-34 edge in the rebounding battle. The Cougars scored 16 second-chance points and produced 22 assists on 34 made field goals.
Denver shot 42.6 percent from the field, with Bruner going 6 of 18 overall from the field.
The victory started a five-game homestand for BYU. The Cougars have three more nonconference games before making their Big 12 Conference basketball debut at home Jan. 6 against Cincinnati. They play at No. 6 Baylor on Jan. 9.
Denver returns home to oppose Adams State on Monday.
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