SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Led by Yoeli Childs’ 31 points, the BYU Cougars defeated the Utah Utes 74-59 in the first game of the Beehive Classic at Vivint SmartHome Arena.

When you have BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK 3️⃣1️⃣ point games!#GoCougs | #BYUhoops pic.twitter.com/p80FZX2Yuf

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) December 8, 2018

Yoeli Childs was dominant from the start, scoring all of the Cougars’ first 12 points. After Childs got the Cougars started, his teammate, Zac Seljaas, went on a mini-scoring run of his own by scoring BYU’s next seven points.

“It wasn’t rocket science to know what was working for us,” said BYU head coach Dave Rose after the game.

Despite the efforts of Childs and Seljaas, BYU went on a major slump in the middle of the half, going nearly seven minutes without a field. The Utes led by Sedrick Barefield, were able to take advantage of the Cougars’ scoring lapse and took a 22-21.

BYU however, would respond with back-to-back threes by TJ Haws and Connor Harding to retake the lead at 27-22.

The Utes, however stayed close and BYU took a small four-point lead into the halftime break.

Cougars Pull Away In Second Half

Childs and the Cougars picked up right where they left off with a 13-0 run to begin the second half. It wasn’t the 14:06 mark of the half that Utah finally found the bottom of the net with a 3-pointer by Donnie Tillman.

The Cougars continued to roll. Childs provided an incredible highlight with a powerful one-handed dunk over two Ute defenders to energize the entire arena.

WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!!!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#SCTop10 | #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/Cs0O2WnZA8

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) December 8, 2018

From there it was basically all-BYU as the Cougars rolled to the 15-point victory.

As for why the Utes came out so flat in the second half, head coach Larry Krystkowiak said it had a lot to do with poor selection.

“We took some ill-advised shots and missed some open shots,” said Krystkowiak. “But I thought the aggressor won the game.”

8️⃣point game with 7 minutes left in the 2nd half.#GoUtes🔴🏀 pic.twitter.com/xvpmXtC9v9

— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) December 8, 2018

Game Leaders

Childs came close to setting a new career high with 31 points. He also completed the double-double with 11 rebounds.

Barefield led the Utes with 16 points in the loss.

Next Up

BYU will host Portland State Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Utah will travel to face Kentucky next Saturday at 5 p.m.