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BYU Basketball: Sloppy play keeps it close but BYU continues win streak

ByAdam Gibby|
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 03: Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo the Cougar performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the San Diego Toreros at the Orleans Arena on March 3, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-79. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 03: Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo the Cougar performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the San Diego Toreros at the Orleans Arena on March 3, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cougars won 85-79. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)

BYU Basketball had more turnovers in the first half against Loyola Marymount than they did the entire game earlier in the week against San Diego, but in the end the Cougars still found a way to win.

Needing a win to keep a one and a half game lead in the WCC for second place, BYU Basketball found themselves down by twelve with 2:28 left in the first half to the LMU Lions. Despite shooting 55% in the first half and dishing out ten assists on twelve baskets, ten turnovers and 50% free throw shooting had the Cougars down a dozen early.

BYU would finish out the half strong and close the gap to make it 36-30 with almost all of the production coming Gavin Baxter and TJ Haws. But the second half proved to be a different story again for the Cougars and in the first five minutes of the second half closed the gap to 42-40 after a McKay Cannon three pointer.

LMU again appeared to take the game into control going on a 12-5 run and making it 54-45 with just over ten minutes remaining in the game. The Cougars would follow that up with their own 7-2 run to make it a 56-52 game with eight minutes remaining. LMU would make one final push making the score 58-52 but a Nick Emery three changed the tide permanently as BYU finished out the game on a 18-4 run.

There wasn’t any BYU player with a standout on the statsheet but four players scored in double figures with Yoeli Childs leading the team with 18 points. Zac Seljaas shot 4-4 from deep which provided a steady momentum boost throughout the game.

The win guarantees BYU a top four seed in the WCC Tournament and gets the Cougars one game closer to extending Dave Rose’s streak of 20 win seasons.

Game Notes

  • TJ Haws tied his career high in assists with eight.
  • The win keeps BYU 2nd in the WCC with three games remaining. BYU will play San Fransisco in Provo next Thursday in a game that will likely decide the number two seed for the WCC Tourney.
  • After going scoreless and fouling out against San Diego, Gavin Baxter emerged to be a leading scorer with 13 points on a perfect six for six shooting.
  • The Cougars shot 15-15 on FT’s in the second half which was the highest percentage all season in a half with at least twelve free throws attempted.
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