BYU basketball: Cougars knock off Westminster in exhibition game

BYU basketball remained undefeated in exhibition play, defeating Westminster College on Wednesday.

BYU basketball, thanks to more stellar play from Yoeli Childs, defeated the Westminster Griffins 76-62 in an exhibition game. With the win, the Cougars are 2-0 in preseason play.

Childs carried BYU basketball (which looks like it may be a trend for this season) against the Griffins, scoring 25 points (on 11-of-14 shooting) and grabbing 14 rebounds.

The Griffins made a bit of a charge in the second half, cutting BYU’s lead to 11, but the Cougars’ lead never really felt at risk.

It was surprising to see the Cougars not crack the century mark against Westminster, but in some ways a win like this is almost more impressive. I’ve seen a few too many games where BYU basketball wins 100-88. I’d much rather see the Cougars play competent and competitive defense and hold a team to fewer than 70 points.

Something worth noting is Nick Emery’s absence. After playing the first few minutes, Emery found himself on the bench for much of the first half. In the second half, he wasn’t even on the bench. According to the BYUtv broadcast, Emery was ill.

However, it’s no secret that Emery may not be eligible for the entirety of the season, with both BYU and the NCAA investigating his relationship to a booster.

And in his absence, Jahshire Hardnett played well. I still think that, if eligible, Emery will be in BYU’s starting lineup. But it’s clear that Hardnett has been the better of the two early. Emery is certainly better defensively, but he’s been such a streaky scorer that it’s tough to depend on him.

Luckily, the Cougars might not have to. Between Childs and guards TJ Haws and Elijah Bryant (who combined to score 26 on the night), BYU doesn’t need Emery to score 20 points a night. If he could consistently put up 12-15, the team would be in great shape.

In any event, if Emery becomes the sixth man, or becomes ineligible, it’s good to know that Hardnett will be able to replace his production.

The Cougars’ final exhibition game is on November 8, where they’ll host Colorado College. After that, the regular season begins on November 11 against Missouri Valley State.