BYU basketball: Cougars dominate MVSU, move to 1-0
BYU basketball is now 1-0 on the season after defeating Mississippi Valley State 91-61 on Saturday night in Provo.
Led by Elijah Bryant and Yoeli Childs, BYU basketball won its season opener 91-61. The Cougars never trailed in the game, and spent just 39 seconds tied with the Delta Devils.
It was exactly the kind of game that BYU basketball fans – and head coach Dave Rose – was hoping for.
The Cougars shot 59 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range. The only real blemish was a 3-for-8 mark from the free-throw line.
Four players reached double figures in the game for BYU. TJ Haws scored 14 and Zac Seljaas scored 11, but the stars of the game were Bryant and Childs.
Childs finished with a double-double, but stuffed the stat sheet. He posted 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
Bryant was on fire all night, making 10 of his 11 shot attempts for 27 points. He added six rebounds.
It’s abundantly clear that Bryant is totally healthy for the first time in his BYU career. He looks smooth and confident – plus he’s found his range again. He might end up being the Cougars’ best guard this season.
Two players that won’t stand out in the box score, but had productive games were Dalton Nixon and Luke Worthington.
The duo combined for 14 points and nine rebounds, all while winning a number of hustle plays. Nixon was providing a spark with his hustle plays (particularly when rebounding) and Worthington set good screens all night.
Obviously, it’s always a good thing to get a win. BYU basketball took care of business against Mississippi Valley State, which is a good sign. I was worried that the Cougars might get in a funk and let the Delta Devils hang around.
Nope.
That’s good, and hopefully it gives the team a mental edge heading into Princeton next week. The matchup with the Tigers will be a real measuring stick game for the Cougars. A win proves you’re legit, a loss proves you’ve got more work to do.
Three things we learned
- Elijah Bryant is legit. It was easy to get discouraged with his play last season, but it’s clear he wasn’t healthy a year ago. He looks like the best player not named Yoeli Childs.
- Jahshire Hardnett is a huge piece for the Cougars. Hardnett played 25 minutes on Saturday night, running the offense when TJ Haws needed a breather. The Cougars never missed a beat with Haws on the bench. But to me, the most impressive thing is Hardnett’s stat line. He scored just one point, while adding three rebounds and two assists. So why was he on the floor for 25 minutes? Because he commanded the offense and played quality defense. Hardnett is a smart player, which is something every team could use.
- Luke Worthington can play. For years, I never understood what Worthington brought to BYU basketball. But he’s slimmed down after his mission and it shows. He’s got better footwork, and he’s turned himself into a decent defender. He’ll be overlooked a lot this season, but I think he’s going to be a key for BYU.