Bad news for Orem. The Tigers trailed 35-31 with two minutes left in the game.

If there was one place Orem wanted Provo to be when the Tigers tried to come from behind on Friday night, it was unlikeliest of places -- the free throw line.

Provo made just 42 percent of its free throws and missed the front end of three one-and-ones (four if you ask Orem coach Mike Conner).

But while Provo left the bank unguarded, Orem couldn't cash in.

The Tigers scored just four points in the fourth quarter, as they watched Provo hold on for a 39-31 win at Provo.

"I wasn't extremely happy. I thought we were sloppy. Orem played a very physical game. That's their style, but we played good enough to win," said Provo coach Craig Drury. "The free throw line killed us. After the first couple games, we had been shooting pretty well from the free throw line. I told them after the game that it was about mental toughness. That we had to be mental tougher."

After a third quarter that was the equivalent to a three-and-out for both teams -- Orem outscored Provo 8-7 to leave Provo clinging to a 29-27 lead -- the fourth quarter began with a missed one-and-one for Provo.

Orem then turned the ball over and Brandon Davies made 1-od-2 free throws to put Provo up 30-27. Another Orem turnover set up what proved to be the play of the game.

Chris Sorensen blocked an Orem shot in the corner. Kyle Collinsworth pulled down the rebound and threw a full-court touchdown strike to the hustling Sorensen for a layup and a five-point Provo lead.

Ian Harward answered for Orem to trim the lead to 32-29.

Then the game took a strange twist. Davies was sent to the line for two free throws with 4:51 to play. He missed the first one and made the second.

While Orem brought the ball up court, Conner screamed at the officials. He argued that one of the referees signaled one-and-one and not two shots.

Conner took a timeout to try and get it cleared up, but the play did not change.

The Tigers scored just two points the rest of the game.

Provo then pulled away. Davies scored on a jump hook with 3:10 left in the game. The Bulldogs made just 4-of-9 free throws in the final three minutes of the game, but all Orem could manage was a Goose Kallunki basket.

"I don't want to make a big issue of it, but it was a big momentum change," Conner said. "They shot a million of them (free throws) and they helped us by missing them. They let us hang around, but we just had a hard time getting shots."

Provo took control early, as the Bulldogs used seven Orem turnovers in the first quarter, coupled with eight points from Collinsworth, to build a 13-5 lead.

Orem charged back to tie the game in the second. Kallunki sank of a pair of 3-pointers from the corner. His second swish tied the game at 17.

Provo responded with an Adam Law 3-pointer, followed by a Christian Foerster layup, to give the Bulldogs a 22-17 lead.

The Tigers cut the lead at the half to 22-19 after Daniel Hockersmith followed his own missed shot, got the rebound and scored to help the Tigers take some momentum into the locker room.

Davies led Provo with 14 points. He also blocked five shots. Collinsworth had 12 points and Law finished with nine points, a pair of 3-pointers and three steals.

Kallunki had pair of 3-pointers and led Orem with 10 points. Hockersmith finished with eight points and Tucker Lamb had six rebounds and two steals for the Tigers.

The win helped Provo improve to 3-0 in region play. After the game, Provo fans shouted, "We want Timpview."

The will get their wish next Friday when the two teams meet. Orem dropped to 1-2 in region play.

OREM (31)

Egbert 6, Hockersmith 8, Kallunki 10, Harward 7. Totals 9 7-11 31.

PROVO (39)

Davies 14, Collinsworth 12, Law 9, Sorensen 2, Forester 2. Totals 12 9-21 39.

Orem 5 14 9 4 -- 31

Provo 13 9 8 10 -- 39

3-point goals: Orem 2 (Kallunki 2), Provo 2 (Law 2).