FACTS & STATS: Site: Marriott Center (22,700) -- Provo, Utah. Television: Local. Home Record: S. Utah 0-5, BYU 6-0. Away Record: S. Utah 2-4, BYU 2-0. Neutral Record: S. Utah 0-0, BYU 1-2. Conference Record: S. Utah 1-1, BYU 0-0. Series Record: BYU leads, 10-0.

GAME NOTES: The 21st-ranked BYU Cougars are heavy favorites in tonight's non- conference clash with the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Southern Utah enters with a disappointing 2-9 record, and the club is fresh off Tuesday's 99-63 beating at the hands of Cal State Fullerton. The only two wins thus far have come over Sacramento State and Oakland, and BYU marks a major leap in competition level. As for the Cougars, they own an impressive 9-2 record, and the only losses have come against top-10 foes North Carolina and Michigan State. BYU has won its last two outings, including an 86-67 decision over Pepperdine last weekend. The club is 6-0 at home thus far, and all six wins have come by double figures. Furthermore, the Cougars own a 37-game homecourt winning streak. BYU has won all 10 of its previous meeting with Southern Utah, and all 10 games have been played in Provo.

Geoff Payne is the leading scorer for Southern Utah, as he is racking up 21.8 ppg on the strength of 55.1 percent shooting from the floor. Payne is also pulling down 7.2 rpg, and the Thunderbirds are outrebounding their opponents by 4.6 rpg. Unfortunately, the squad is netting just 66.6 ppg while limiting foes to 73.8 ppg, and Payne is the only double-digit scorer in the lineup. There are a number of obvious reasons that Southern Utah lost its game against Cal State Fullerton earlier this week. The Thunderbirds finished with only 11 assists against 22 turnovers and permitted 55.2 percent shooting from the field to the Titans. Payne was solid as usual, as he nailed all eight of his free-throw attempts en route to 18 points. Nurudeen Adepoju pitched in 11 points in defeat.

BYU has been strong at both ends of the court this season. The Cougars are scoring 80.6 ppg while limiting foes to 63.5 ppg on 37.3 percent shooting from the field. They are also winning the rebounding battle by 8.2 rpg, certainly a key to their early success. Frontcourt standout Trent Plaisted is the top performer for BYU, as he is posting 18.0 ppg and 9.8 rpg. Lee Cummard checks in with 15.5 ppg and 37 assists, while Jonathan Tavernari contributes 14.1 ppg. Cummard scored 21 points to lead his Cougars to the win over Pepperdine last time out, and he also had six rebounds, five assists and four blocks in that clash. Plaisted posted 18 points and 18 rebounds, and Tavernari had 10 points off the bench. BYU committed a staggering total of 29 turnovers, but it overcame the carelessness with 56.9 percent shooting from the field and a strong defensive effort that held the Waves to 31.4 percent overall shooting.

Expect BYU to jump on top early and never look back. The Cougars will dominate this game at both ends of the court.

Predicted Outcome

BYU 86, Southern Utah 54