BYU 83-52, FINAL: The Cougars rolled again, getting 18 points from Jonathan Tavernari to improve to 4-0. BYU hit 12 of 22 3-pointers. Lee Cummard and Jimmer Fredette each added 13. BYU will play Cal Poly at 8:30 p.m. at the Marriott Center on Saturday.

The home-court winning streak has reached a nice, round 50 games.

BYU 78-44, 3:44 remaining: I have no earthly idea Rice coach Ben Braun just called a timeout (with the next one being a media stoppage) but he did.

Cummard was the last starter to leave, exiting with 5:28 left. Obviously he could afford a few extra minutes because of the early foul trouble that forced him to the bench.

Rice showed a little life, getting an 8-0 that included a couple of wide-open treys. BYU's bench already is having fun. Tavernari, somber after Thursday night, is joking around with a couple of assistant coaches.

I'll give a final score update, then it's off for interviews and to meet a tight newspaper deadline because of the late start.

Thanks a bunch for joining me tonight. It looks like it'll be a fun season.

BYU 62-31, 10:17 remaining: Lamont Morgan has set up the two nicest baskets of the night. First, he had a driving, wrap-around pass that left James Anderson an easy first-half layup. Then the juco transfer, who sat out last year simply to improve, fed Charles Abouo with 12:15 left.

Abouo slashed through the lane, bobbled the bounce pass but recovered in time for a fancy-looking righty reverse layup that got the crowd excited during a mundane game.

Interesting little lineup coming out of the break: Cummard, Abouo, Emery, Morgan, Anderson. Rose can try about any combo he wants at this point. I think five sportswriters here are itching for a shot.

BYU 52-23, 17:11 remaining: Cummard came right into the game, after sitting the final 6:42 of the first half, and scored. Rice is just trying not to get demoralized at this point. Rose is looking for little things that are a big deal to him. Tavernari missed a little jumper and Rose yelled at center Chris Miles to "get it, Chris," as in an offensive board.

Miles knocked the ball off a Rice player to give the Cougars possession. Fredette promptly drained a 3. Fighting for extra possessions is what Rose is all about. That'll look good in the film room tomorrow.

Second half about to start...

Rose must not have been totally thrilled with the offensive execution in the first half. The team is running through its various offenses in the final two minutes before the second half starts. Usually they do this when they feel the need to get a little more crisp.

BYU 43-23 at halftime: BYU built a huge lead, just like against North Florida, but this looks like a different team. It's bouncier, more interested...

Always interesting, though, how something seems to happen toward the end of the half that Dave Rose can bring to his team in the locker room. Rice didn't have an offensive rebound until the final second, and that led to a layup. The Owls cannot afford to crash the glass after their own missed shots very often. Their transition speed just isn't good enough to hang around.

Tavernari had 14 points, again the only double-digit scorer; just like all of last night's game. He took some silly shots toward the end, though, to finish 5-of-11 (3 for 6 long range). Cummard still had eight points despite playing just 12 minutes. Jackson Emery has eight, too.

A bunch of little kids are stealing the show, playing a full-court game. Not sure if Rice is looking for second-half help. At least some on the defensive end.

Hey, everyone, this is Franchuk checking in from Monday morning's practice.

For all that Brandon Bradley has gone through, with that knee injury last year, he had a terrific ending to the session by intercepting a Max Hall pass. Hall rolled to his left and threw a somewhat wobbly pass at Tyler Kozlowski.

Still, it looked like Koz would catch the ball because Bradley was so far behind, 'til he turned into Superman with a quick rush backward and then some flying in the air.

"It was a mess up by me," Bradley told me. "I bit on a double move. But like the coaches are always saying, I just had to keep going. You never know what can happen. "

The moment was one of the fall camp's best plays by anyone. Bradley even had a bunch of teammates asking him about it afterward. What defense was he in? Why so far behind? How'd he snare the ball from Koz's grasp?

It was a good way to end Monday. The team will practice Monday night but the evening practices are never as taxing. It's also the last of 2-a-days!

"There were a couple of other plays that could have been a lot better," Bradley said of his camp performance since Aug. 1, "had I actually caught the ball. I'd say this one was the best so far."

∫Sorensen shining: Daniel Sorensen stood out so much in practice that...coach Bronco Mendenhall switched him positions. Sorensen was a fourth option at safety, at best, now he's studying from David Nixon at strongside linebacker. Mendenhall believes Sorensen, "one of the highlights" from Saturday's scrimmage, along with Michael Alisa have the physical makeup to athletic ability to follow the likes of Bryan Kehl and Nixon. Right now, Sorensen wouldn't slide into Nixon's spot if something happened to David. Vic So'oto would move over from the weak side. But Sorensen will play some special teams as well.

∫Bummer for Bills: It looks like the career of Kelly Bills is over. The junior, who has bounced around between linebacker and fullback, had a major concussion last year and one last week. Mendenhall counts four in the career that the coach says he can't in good conscience allow to continue. He's supposed to meet with Bills again Monday, but the coach said he's laid out his concerns to Kelly. "The risk is just too great," Mendenhall said. David Tafuna was back at safety, facing contact, after suffering a head-ringer at the scrimmage two Saturday's ago. Spencer Hafoka, the wide receiver, didn't face contact but did some drills.

∫First, Fui Vakapuna suffered the quote wrath of Mendenhall for some suspect rehabilitation. Now it's Ian Dulan. The defensive lineman missed practice with shoulder inflammation: "I'm not really pleased with how he's handling his rehab currently," Mendenhall said. "I'd like to see more of an urgency, so I'll keep him out until he learns to handle that part of it correctly."

∫Best news of the day? Center Tom Sorensen was back in action, seeing time with the No. 2 offense. He's had shoulder issues and bypassed surgery, hoping rest and some meds would do the trick. Sorensen even took contact. "A good thing for our team," Mendenhall said, noting Sorensen can also play guard.

Look for more in the Daily Herald or this blog. Mendenhall could have some more starting and No. 2 positions broken down this evening (practice starts at 5 p.m.). A biggie will be backup quarterback, Gaskins or McEuen? McEuen just keeps "chipping away" at the margin Gaskins held on the job at Day One of camp.

Thanks for checking this out, Cougar fans. I'll try to be more diligent in the upcoming days. Hopefully you'll check out our Special Section that comes out Thursday, with coverage of BYU, the MWC, local colleges, the NFL (stories on Beck, Kehl, etc.) plus high school. I think everyone will find something to like! Our entire staff has been hard at work meeting today's print deadlines.

Franchuk