Haws scores career-high 42 as BYU routs Virginia Tech 97-71

Brigham Young guard Tyler Haws (3) goes to the basket as Virginia Tech guard Robert Brown (1) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Salt Lake City. BYU defeated Virginia Tech 97-71. Haws scored 42 points. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)

Brigham Young guard Tyler Haws (3) passes the ball as Virginia Tech guard Marquis Rankin (10) defends in the first half during an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)

SALT LAKE CITY – Tyler Haws scored a career-high 42 points, including six 3-pointers, and Brigham Young routed Virginia Tech 97-71 Saturday in the Cougars' final warm-up before West Coast Conference play begins next week.

Haws had a chance to tie a school record the last time BYU played at the Utah Jazz arena in Salt Lake City after opening the season with six straight 20-point games. But the sophomore guard fell two points short in a blowout victory over Montana on Nov. 28.

On Saturday, he more than made up for that.

He had 29 points by halftime after opening 9 of 13, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc.

By then the Cougars (10-4) were leading 56-31 against a Hokies team that has dropped its last two by a combined 62 points.

Erick Green, the nation's leading scorer, finished with 12 points on 4 of 17 shooting for Virginia Tech (9-4).