BYU’s ‘Stickiness’ Gets Best Of Them In Loss Against San Diego State

PROVO, Utah – For the first time since 2011, BYU hosted San Diego State in the Marriott Center. No there wasn’t anyone like a Jimmer Fredette or Kawhi Leonard in Saturday’s game, but once again this old Mountain West Conference rivalry delivered a great game.

BYU just happened to fall on the losing end, the Cougars third consecutive loss in the series and the first in Provo since 2005. San Diego State defeated BYU 76-71.

Final: San Diego State 76, BYU 71

First time since 2005 the Cougars have lost to the Aztecs in the Marriott Center. #BYU drops to 1-1 on the season. #BYUhoops #KSLsports

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 9, 2019

The Cougars now fall to 1-1 on the young season. Despite a halftime deficit, BYU came out strong in the second half going on a 21-3 run that gave the Cougars a 50-43 lead with 14:18 remaining in the second half.

In the first half, BYU head coach Mark Pope said his team’s offense was “sticky” and he put the blame on himself and his staff for not putting his team in better spots for success the tall and athletic Aztecs.

Both teams went back-and-forth in the second half of a game that felt like it should have been played in late February rather than early November that saw BYU clinging to a two-point lead heading into the final media timeout of the game. BYU led 65-63.

What went wrong for #BYU down the stretch against SDSU? Things got sticky offensively and they couldn’t grab a rebound according to Mark Pope. #BYUhoops #KSLsports pic.twitter.com/caXtVycodj

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 10, 2019

SDSU’s Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell took over and led the way for the Aztecs and closed out the game handing BYU their first loss of the season. The Aztecs ended the game on an 8-0 run and sealed the victory for San Diego State.

What went wrong for BYU down the stretch? Head coach Mark Pope said the stickiness of the offense and the lack of rebounding hurt the Cougars in the final stretch.

Rebounds

San Diego State outrebounded BYU by 16. BYU head coach Mark Pope acknowledged the challenges in the frontcourt for his team in the postgame. Pope took the blame saying he needs to figure out ways to get his team to perform better on the glass.

Jake Toolson found his groove

Despite the loss, Utah Valley transfer Jake Toolson found his groove again as a BYU Cougar. Toolson led BYU in scoring with 18 points and shot 7-of-13 from the field.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.