BYU’s Comeback Effort Comes Up Short At Saint Mary’s

PROVO, Utah – BYU had their opportunities to get a quality win for their NCAA Tournament resume, but they came up short against Saint Mary’s. The Gaels edged out BYU, 69-64.

BYU’s setback drops them to 19-9 overall on the season and 7-6 in WCC play. In addition, it guarantees that this will be the first time since 2005 that BYU wins fewer than 10 games in conference play.

Final: Saint Mary's 69, #BYU 64.

BYU is now 19-9 overall, 7-6 in WCC play.#BYUHoops #GoCougs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2022

The loss also puts BYU in a difficult situation with their at-large NCAA Tournament chances. Coming into the game, BYU was outside the field of 68, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. This could drop them a little bit more.

Now BYU will look to make up ground at the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas in two weeks.

Here’s a recap of BYU’s loss at Saint Mary’s.

BYU hangs around despite big first half from Tommy Kuhse

Saint Mary’s guard Tommy Kuhse is one of those players that feels like he has been around forever. Considering he is in his sixth year with the Gaels, you could argue that he has been around forever. But the super senior is playing at a completely different level than he ever has before in his career.

Kuhse scored 20 points in the first half against BYU. It was only the fifth time in his career that he has reached 20 points in a game. You would think with an individual performance like that, BYU would be down big at the half; they weren’t.

It's a ball game in Moraga. At the half…@saintmaryshoops – 34@BYUMBB – 30 #BYU #BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/gKaHRKLXg6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 20, 2022

BYU went into the halftime locker room down four, 34-30.

The supporting cast away from Alex Barcello stepped up in a big game to aid the All-American candidate guard. Barcello led the way with 10 points, but six other players scored points in the first 20 minutes.

One of those six players that knocked down a field goal in the first half was Fousseyni Traore. Despite dealing with a groin issue earlier in the week, Traore got the start. BYU coach Mark Pope said his freshman forward couldn’t cross halfcourt during practices on Thursday and Friday. But he could still log 12 minutes and make life difficult for the taller Matthias Tass from Saint Mary’s.

Atiki Ally Atiki had an excellent first half off the bench, recording the best plus/minus for BYU at plus-five. The freshman center from Tanzania had a highlight-worthy block that got the tempo running for BYU.

Both teams did an excellent job of taking care of the basketball, with only five turnovers each. The Gaels were turnover-less through the first 11 minutes of action, then the ESPN announcers pointed it out, leading to a quick four turnovers over the next four minutes of action.

Big run by Saint Mary’s was too much for BYU to overcome

Throughout a five-minute stretch early in the second half, BYU trailed Saint Mary’s by one possession or tied. But BYU could never take over the lead. Mark Pope switched Gideon George on him to counter Tommy Kuhse’s first-half success. Last year, George locked up Kuhse as BYU closed out last year’s game in Moraga on a 19-2 run.

#BYU gets a kill after getting down 16 points. That's one thing about this BYU team, they never roll over and die. They will always compete to the bitter end.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 20, 2022

Early on, BYU had success on Kuhse with the defensive switch. But after those five minutes, BYU forward Seneca Knight rolled his right ankle while backpedaling after a missed shot, then the Gaels popped off a 10-2 run to get back up by double-figures.

Officials let a lot of physical play go without any whistles on BYU’s end of the floor. BYU’s Alex Barcello gets bumped regularly, but no whistles. The frustration with the lack of whistles rattled some of BYU’s players, and the Cougars started to make mistakes. BYU turned the ball over nine times in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

Alex Barcello for three! #BYU has cut the deficit to one possession. They've got a chance.#BYUHoops @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 20, 2022

After getting down by a game-high 16-point deficit, BYU’s defense tightened up, forcing a “kill,” which is three consecutive defensive possessions with a stop. BYU knocked the deficit down to 10, then worked it down to three with 1:46 remaining.

Neither team made any field goals in the final 1:46 of action, Alex Barcello had a wide-open three with under a minute to go to try and tie it, but it rimmed in and out. Then, finally, Matthias Tass hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory for Saint Mary’s.

Next Up

BYU returns to action on Thursday night for the regular season’s penultimate game when they host Loyola Marymount. The Cougars defeated LMU on February 10, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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

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