BYU basketball: Second-half surge propels Cougars over Pepperdine

BYU basketball rebounded from a bad loss to Pacific to defeat the Pepperdine Waves in blowout fashion on Thursday night. The Cougars are now 14-4 (3-2).

After 20 minutes of action, BYU basketball led Pepperdine 40-34. The Cougars allowed the Waves to shoot 56 percent. Pepperdine hit five 3-pointers (their season average).

You couldn’t help but think it.

“Oh no. Don’t let the Waves stay close. That’s how upsets happen.”

Besides the nasty taste that remained in everyone’s mouths since the loss to Pacific, BYU basketball was just 11-9 all-time against the Waves.

So when things got close, everyone’s stomachs churned.

Then the second half started. And the Cougar Cagers obliterated Pepperdine’s hope of a comeback victory, defeating the Waves 83-63.

BYU basketball started the second half with a 24-6 run, extending its lead to 64-40. The Cougars never looked back. The Waves were completely out-matched as the Cougars relied on Yoeli Childs and Elijah Bryant, but also got quality play from Zac Seljaas and TJ Haws.

It’s the latter two of those four names that are most important. By this point, we all expect Childs to get his double-double and Elijah to get his 25 or so points. But Haws and Seljaas have been as streaky as anyone thus far.

Neither lit the world on fire, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.

The two combined to score 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

Bryant finished with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting (5-of-8 from 3-point range). Childs added 21 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high six assists.

Next up for BYU basketball is an away meeting with Santa Clara (6-10). At the time of this writing, the Broncos have yet to take on Saint Mary’s – but one would assume the Gaels have no trouble in that matchup.