BYU got a 82-70 win over San Diego to avenge their earlier loss in the season to the Toreros.
Photo Courtesy of BYU Photo
PROVO – Revenge is so sweet and the BYU Basketball team got a taste of its own Thursday night. The San Diego Toreros came to the Marriott Center with plans to complete the season sweep over the Cougars, but Nick Emery had other plans and used the long ball to score 26 points and put his team on top 82-70.
After exchanging blows, BYU jumped out to an 18 point lead after making 14 field goals in a row. Emery led the charge shooting five-for-five beyond-the-arc.
“I got a lot of open shots and was able to knock them down,” said Emery. “It helped get us going. It was awesome.”
San Diego answered with a 16-4 run in the final minutes of the half to cut BYU’s lead to six. After BYU went to the free throw line to extend the lead. Olin Carter III made a trey to cut BYU’s lead to four, but TJ Haws answered back with a deep three to beat the buzzer. BYU took a 45-38 lead into the locker room.
“Both teams were aggressive, especially in the first half,” said BYU Head Coach Dave Rose. “I feel like we really got into a good rhythm and our shot selection was a lot better.”
Emery continued the offensive onslaught coming out of the locker room scoring the first five points in the second half. San Diego tried to come back, but BYU answer each score with one of its own. The Toreros were never able to cut BYU’s lead to less than nine.
In addition to Emery’s 26 points, Elijah Bryant and Eric Mika both chipped in 15 while Yoeli Childs and TJ Haws had a dozen each. Mika extended his streak of scoring in double-digits to 29 consecutive games and also recorded his 16th double-double of the season.
BYU will return to the Marriott Center Saturday night as they host the Saint Mary’s Gael and will be broadcast on ESPN 2. The game can also be heard on the Cougar IMG Sports Network (102.7 FM, 1160 AM, 143 SiriusXM) with Voice of the Cougars Greg Wrubell on the call.
