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San Diego • And that, ladies and gentleman, should answer your questions about the BYU Cougars.

Making a rare regular-season college basketball appearance on national television against a revenge-minded No. 6 ranked team at its seething cauldron of an arena — as hostile of a road atmosphere as can be imagined — the Cougars proved Saturday afternoon they are a legitimate contender for much more than a Mountain West Conference title this year.

Continuing its mastery over No. 6 San Diego State in what was billed as the biggest game in conference history, No. 7 BYU again battered the shell-shocked Aztecs. The Cougars quieted SDSU's boisterous, push-the-envelope crowd and its sea of anti-BYU signs and chants, winning 80-67 at Viejas Arena. It was BYU's fourth straight win against SDSU — its third straight in San Diego — and its seventh in the past eight meetings with the Aztecs.

"By the way the guys responded in the locker room after the game, yeah, this was a big win," coach Dave Rose said, declining to answer if it was the biggest in program's history.

After having scored 43 points in BYU's 71-58 win against the Aztecs a month ago — SDSU's only loss until Saturday — Jimmer Fredette was again the show, as CBS cameras were in place to see if the nation's leading scorer and top candidate for Player of the Year honors was all that.

He was — and more — posting 25 points and handing out nine assists — but this time, he shared top billing with several of his teammates, who came up big time and again as the Aztecs double-teamed Fredette as soon as he crossed halfcourt. Charles Abouo was 4 of 5 from 3-point range for 18 points. Noah Hartsock (15) and Jackson Emery (13) also reached double figures.

"There have been some pretty big [wins] in the Danny Ainge era," Emery said. "But I think, since the time I have grown up in Utah and seen BYU basketball, this is one of the biggest ever. I don't know if I would classify it as the biggest, but it is up there."

Maybe, maybe not.

But there's no denying that the win shoves the 27-2 Cougars into at least the discussion for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, especially because they now have three wins against current top-10 teams.

If they win their final two regular-season games, both at home, and the MWC Tournament next month in Las Vegas, Selection Sunday might mean the biggest party in Provo since, well, let's not get carried away.

"We've talked about it all year long, that this is a very good team with a couple special players," Rose said. "By our RPI [Rating Percentage Index], and by this conference's RPI and our record in the league, we should get some pretty good consideration."

A four-point favorite, SDSU (27-2, 12-2 MWC) scored first on a Kawhi Leonard inside basket, then didn't have the lead again after an Emery jumper. The Cougars had a 13-point lead in the first half, nearly lost it, then answered every rally from the home team with a huge 3-pointer, jumper or three-point play.

The Cougars were 14 of 24 from 3-point range, and many of those came when Fredette simply found the open man in the face of a trapping defense.

"They were double-teaming me, and I was getting the ball to my teammates and they were wide open," Fredette said. "They are going to make shots when they are open. That was the key."

The Aztecs again hurt the Cougars with their offensive-rebounding prowess, getting 15, but they had just seven second-chance points to BYU's seven. And they shot just 39.7 percent.

Leonard had 17 points and 13 rebounds, but D.J. Gay was again throttled by Emery.

"They played better," Gay said. "We just have to go back and learn from it, and, hopefully, get another shot at them."

Rose preached all week about scoring consistently and not to allow the crowd to "blow the roof off" the building, and his players did just that. After missing their first six shots of the second half — all from close range — there was only one other stretch in the second 20 minutes where they went more than two possessions without scoring.

"You watch TV, you read articles on the Internet," Emery said. "Everybody picked San Diego State. When you go into anyone's arena, the home team should be picked. Really, this was kind of the first time all year that we were the underdog team that wasn't supposed to win. But we did."

And the Cougars answered a lot of questions in the process.

drew@sltrib.comTwitter: @drewjay 02—

Storylines

R In Short • Earning perhaps the biggest regular-season win in school history, No. 7 BYU quiets No. 6 San Diego State and a frenzied crowd at sold-out Viejas Arena.

Key Moment • Jimmer Fredette answers a James Rahon 3-pointer with one of his own with 13:03 remaining, restoring a six-point lead.

Key Stat • The Cougars go 14 for 24 from 3-point range.