SPOKANE, Wash. -- The BYU Cougars dealt the Gonzaga Bulldogs a rare home defeat last season. Thursday night, the Cougars decided to double their fun by winning for the second time in a row at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Senior point guard Kyle Collinsworth scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half; freshman guard Nick Emery delivered the winning basket on a 3-pointer for his only points of the game; and senior forward Nate Austin blocked Kyle Wiltjer's potential game-winning shot in the final seconds of BYU's 69-68 win over the 25th-ranked Bulldogs.

The Cougars (13-5, 4-1 West Coast Conference) trailed most of the way, thanks largely to Wiltjer's 35 points and 10 rebounds. Known for their high-octane offense and often lax defense, the Cougars held Gonzaga (13-4, 5-1) to a season-low 36.8 percent shooting from the field.

"We played with a lot of confidence," said BYU guard Chase Fischer, who scored 18 points. "It was tough, because we got down really early. Us fighting back and not giving up, that was the key to winning this game."

"Our effort and energy was there the whole game," Collinsworth said.

Domantas Sabonis, who teams with Wiltjer to form one of the top forward duos in college basketball, struggled with foul trouble. He finished with just six points and five rebounds in 21 minutes, and the Cougars made their move when Sabonis went to the bench with his fourth foul with 12:40 left in the game.

"They (the Cougars) put a lot of stress on a defense," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Sabonis is our best defender."

Fischer said Austin's block on a driving Wiltjer "was the biggest play of the game, and it won the game." Fischer wasn't the least bit surprised when Austin delivered in the clutch.

"He makes big plays when we need them," Fischer said, "And he's the most selfless teammate I've ever had. He doesn't really care about stats. He doesn't care about shooting. All he wants to do is win."

Fischer said Collinsworth has similar traits. Collinsworth sat out much of the first half with two fouls, but he carried BYU in the second half.

"I think he's the best point guard in the country," Fischer said. "He does so much for us."

The same could be said of Wiltjer's impact on the Bulldogs. The WCC scoring leader has been limited in practice since injuring his left foot Dec. 31 at Santa Clara.

"It's pretty amazing what he's been able to do," Few said.

Emery was BYU's second-leading scorer coming into the game with a 15.3 average. However, he was 0 for 5 from the field before he drained a 3-pointer to push the Cougars ahead 69-67 with 1:38 to go.

"If you knew Nick Emery, that shot doesn't surprise you," Fischer said. "That's just kind of his make-up. That's just his kind of moxie, and that confidence in himself that not many freshmen have."

Wiltjer sank 1 of 2 free throws with eight seconds left. Austin blocked Wiltjer's running jumper after Collinsworth was called for traveling after rebounding Wiltjer's missed free throw.

Wiltjer blamed himself for focusing too much on trying to draw a foul not seeing Austin coming at him. Still, Wiltjer said it was Gonzaga's poor defense and BYU's strong offense that ultimately brought an end to Gonzaga's seven-game winning streak.

"We couldn't really get the stops," Wiltjer said. "They've got some tough players. Collinsworth is tough. He's one of the best players in the nation, and he showed it. We couldn't really stop him."

Gonzaga, playing in front of the usual home sellout of 6,000, led 36-32 at the half. The Bulldogs outscored BYU 13-2 at the start of the second half, but the Cougars did not wilt, and Few was suitably impressed.

"Great effort," he said. "Unbelievable pressure coming at you in transition. At the offensive end, they're a threat to score anywhere at any time."

NOTES: Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis have been named to the Midseason Top 25 for the Wooden Award, presented annually to the top player in college basketball. Wiltjer, a senior F, came into Thursday's game with per-game averages of 21.5 points (first in the WCC) and 7.4 rebounds. Sabonis, a sophomore F, was averaging 18.9 points and a league-leading 11.0 rebounds. ... HBO is filming a five-part series on the Bulldogs, following the team on and off the floor. The first installment airs Feb. 16. ... Entering Thursday, Gonzaga's Mark Few and BYU's Dave Rose ranked in the top eight in winning percentage among active NCAA Division I coaches. Few, in his 17th season at Gonzaga, was No. 1 at .809 (451-106). Rose, in his 11th year at BYU, ranked eighth at .743 (269-93).

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