BYU Escapes With 69-59 Win Over Pacific
Feb 9, 2019, 9:17 PM
(Ravell Call, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – After a slow start, the BYU Cougars were able to hold of the Pacific Tigers to claim a 69-59 win.
Yoeli Childs had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead BYU. Conner Harding poured in 13 points, while T. J. Haws posted 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
Only six players from Pacific scored, led by Roberto Gallinat with 15 points. Jahlil Tripp, Anthony Townes, Jeremiah Bailey and Lafayette Dorsey all scored 9 points apiece. Kendall Small added 8 points.
The Tigers jumped out to a 15-9 lead, just 8 minutes into the game.
BYU would take the lead as they hit five shots from beyond the arc. After exchanging leads, the Cougars took a 33-30 lead into the locker room.
Childs had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play. Connor Harding had 8 points, including 2 three’s.
Pacific answered by outscoring BYU 11-8 in the first five minutes of the second half to tie the game at 41.
Harding made a layup, followed by a three by Nick Emery to give BYU some breathing room with a four point lead with 8 minutes left.
The Tigers took the lead briefly before Gavin Baxter gave BYU the lead back on a put back.
BYU went on a 9-0 run to give themselves a 65-57 lead with 2 minutes remaining, Pacific was in a scoring drought that lasted over 6 minutes.
The Cougars held serve in the final moments to pick up the win.
COUGS WIN!! #BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/z1Z6Mliu3j
— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 10, 2019
Up Next
BYU improved to 16-10 on the season and 8-3 in the West Coast Conference and have won their last three games.
They will travel to San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. on AT&T SportsNet. This will be the first of two meetings between the two teams.
Both schools won a game last season with BYU winning 74-58 in Provo, while San Diego picking up the 75-62 victory on their home floor.