Jimmer Fredette and BYU burst San Diego State’s bubble, 80-67

San Diego State threw everything it had at Brigham Young star Jimmer Fredette, including a piece of debris from the stands at the end of Saturday’s game that just missed his head.

The Aztecs shot 39% for the day — you thought some nimrod in the student section would have better aim?

BYU proved at least one thing with its 80-67 victory at jam-packed Viejas Arena: It’s possible to contain the nation’s leading scorer . . . and still lose by 13.

Who knew BYU had other players?

Fredette scored “only” 25 points — below his 27.4 average — and made only eight of 23 shots.

It was his playmaking, of all things, that led to nine assists and total group participation.

“I’ve been telling everybody, all the media, all year long that it’s not just me,” Fredette said.

BYU (27-2, 13-1 in the Mountain West Conference) made 14 of 24 three-point attempts (58.3%).

Forward Noah Hartsock, who averaged 8.8 points per game, finished with 15. Guard Charles Abouo, who normally contributes six points per outing, had 18.

Every time BYU needed a basket, somebody made one.

“But it was never the same somebody,” San Diego State Coach Steve Fisher said.

Hartsock and Abouo combined to make seven of nine three-point attempts. Jackson Emery finished with 13 points and did a terrific defensive job holding Aztecs point guard D.J. Gay to six points — half his game average. The 6-foot-5 Abouo also had a team-high nine rebounds.

Jimmer who?

“I think we did a good job guarding him,” Aztecs forward Billy White said. “Unfortunately, we left other guys open who made shots.”

BYU Coach Dave Rose said Fredette, a senior, has matured considerably in understanding how to control a game.

“He’s really become a lot more patient and really found ways to create shots for his teammates,” Rose said.

The most hyped game in Mountain West history, No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 7 BYU on national television, turned out to be a mini-coronation for the team from Provo, Utah.

San Diego State fans pitched tents waiting for tickets and then watched BYU put a wet blanket on their campfire.

It’s not that San Diego State (27-2, 12-2) didn’t try to adjust.

In its only other loss this season, to BYU in Provo on Jan. 26, Fredette scored 43 points in a 71-58 Cougars win.

Deciding that wasn’t going to happen again, the Aztecs double-teamed the 6-foot-2 star this time with taller players — 6-7 Kawhi Leonard and the 6-8 White.

It didn’t matter.

Fredette, with the ball in his hands, whether shooting or passing, never lets you breathe.

The Aztecs, who opened with a 2-0 lead, never held the lead again. BYU raced to a 12-point lead early and held off every San Diego surge.

The student section went nuts when Fredette shot an airball late in the half and then got one of his shots swatted.

Momentum seemed to have shifted when the Aztecs cut the lead to three, 38-35, at the half.

BYU, though, played the second half with poise under pressure. The Cougars built the lead back to 10 on Stephen Rogers’ three-pointer and extended it to 13 on Emery’s three with 8:17 left.

The only scary BYU moment was when Fredette picked up his fourth foul with five minutes left, but he stayed in without committing his fifth.

San Diego State entered with a one-spot poll advantage over BYU, but the Cougars left with a stronger case for earning a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament.

BYU played fearlessly, and relentlessly, in hostile conditions. San Diego State fans have been unmerciful in their rants against Fredette, who was jeered every time he touched the ball.

Maybe that was why, at game’s end, he heaved the ball so high in the air.

Fredette said he made it a point not to acknowledge the San Diego State student section, known as “The Show,” many of whom dressed as Mormon missionaries (white shirts and black ties).

One sign flashed by a student read, “It’s going to be a long bike ride home.”

It turned out to be a joy ride.

“I tried to block it out,” Fredette said. “I didn’t really look up there at all until the end of the game when we won.”

The impression left by BYU was clear: You might not want to play this team in the NCAA tournament.

It was not the end of San Diego’s sea world. It was only a regular-season defeat. The Aztecs may even get another crack at BYU in the Mountain West Conference tournament.

San Diego State is still headed to the NCAA tournament, with a high-enough seeding to probably earn its first tournament win.

The Aztecs’ only mistake this season was running into BYU . . . twice.

“They are going to be a very difficult out for anyone in the NCAA tournament,” Fisher said. “I don’t care who it is. They are that good.”

Fisher’s team is good too.

Saturday, though, it just wasn’t good enough.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com