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BYU basketball: Cougars sneak by LMU, advance to SMC

By Nathan Cunningham

March 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; BYU Cougars guard Nick Emery (4) against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the first half at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; BYU Cougars guard Nick Emery (4) against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the first half at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU basketball got all it could handle against the Loyola Marymount Lions. Next up for the Cougars is No. 20 Saint Mary’s.

It was closer than many thought it would be, but BYU basketball got it done.

The Cougars defeated Loyola Marymount 89-81 in the West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals. BYU basketball got 25 points and eight rebounds from Eric Mika and 21 points from Nick Emery.

“It was a really hard fought game,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said in a press release following the game. “Both teams came out comfortable and confident. But, I’m most proud of our guys for responding to their runs. We’d get a little lead, and they’d come back at us, and we were able to respond every time and that’s the sign of a team that is playing tight together as a group and executing well.”

The Cougars started the game on fire from 3-point range, knocking down four of their first five from deep and running out to a 14-8 lead. LMU would battle back and take a 26-21 lead, but BYU basketball led 42-38 at halftime.

BYU jumped out to a 14-point lead in the second half, but LMU again answered. The Lions cut BYU basketball’s lead to two points with about six minutes remaining, but Davin Guinn stepped up with back-to-back steals, giving the Cougars more breathing room.

Mika scored 10+ points for the 33rd-straight game, and Yoeli Childs narrowed missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. TJ Haws and Elijah Bryant scored 14 and 15 points, respectively.

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All five of BYU’s starters scored 10+ on the night, for just the third time this season. The Cougars are undefeated in those games.

Next up is No. 20/No. 18 St. Mary’s. The Gaels are 2-0 against the Cougars this season, handling them fairly easily. SMC’s cold molasses pace of play really befuddles BYU, but there’s hope after watching the Cougars settle into the half-court offense at The Kennel.

The Gaels and Cougars will collide on Monday night at 9:30 pm MST on ESPN2.

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