Cougars Run Away From LMU In Second Half
Feb 2, 2019, 8:56 PM
Brigham Young Cougars forward Yoeli Childs (23) is guarded by Loyola Marymount Lions players while dribbling the ball during the first half of the game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. (Silas Walker, Deseret News)
(Silas Walker, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – It took a half for the Cougars to get started, but once they got going, BYU manhandled Loyola Marymount with an easy 67-49 victory.
Gavin Baxter was the hero, with 25 points, to lead the Cougars to a second-half demolition of the Lions.
Slow Start For Both Teams
BYU struggled midway through the first half, going more than five minutes without a point. At the same time, however, LMU was also having a hard time putting the ball in the basket, going more than three minutes without a field goal.
Halftime.#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/nzZBhKIR0E
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 3, 2019
As such the score was close and small, with BYU finally breaking the drought at the 11:35 mark on a jumper Yoeli Childs to make the score 10-9 in LMU’s favor.
The shots finally starting failing and at the end of the first half, the Lions held a slight 26-23 advantage over BYU.
BYU Dominates Second Half
Once the second half started, BYU was like a whole new ball club.
The Cougars drained five of their first seven attempts from downtown after making just 1-of-11 in the first half.
Nick Emery had arguably his best half of play since his return with 14 points in the second half. The junior guard went 6-for-10 from the field while stroking a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc for the whole game.
.@NickEmery04 IN HIS BAG @MountainAmerica | #MACU3 pic.twitter.com/iyL6IdKa0e
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 3, 2019
Gavin Baxter also turned in a strong second half with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
The efforts of Emery and Baxter helped BYU take control of the game in the second half, building a lead as large as 20. The Cougars would roll to an 18-point victory.
The victory helped BYU go to 5-4 in conference play and 14-10 overall.
18-0 run from the Cougs! pic.twitter.com/zSPb5Ue1vK
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 3, 2019
Next Up
The Cougars will next take a one-game road trip to Portland to face the Pilots on Thursday at 8 p.m.
BYU previously dispatched the Pilots with a 79-56 victory at the Marriott Center on Jan. 10.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
