In BYU’s first home game in a month, the Cougars suffered a strong second half Thursday night in the 95-67 run away from Portland at the Marriott Center.
Here are three take-away from the game:
Dominance in the paint
BYU (12-3, 3-1 West Coast Conference) owned the paint against Portland (6-8, 0-5 WCC), led by a strong overall night from Matt Haarms. The great Cougar man had a match-high 23 points – he shot 9 for 9 from the field – and added six rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal as BYU had 42 points in the paint to 22 for Portland.
Richard Harward added 12 points and six rebounds for BYU, which outscored the Pilots 44-27. Guard Alex Barcello led the Cougars with eight rebound careers.
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Matt Haarms (3), forward of Brigham Young Cougars, will sign on Thursday, January 21, 2021 against Hunter Seymour (23) against Portland Pilots at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brandon Averette (4), Brigham Young Cougars guard, will respond during the game against Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Alex Barcello (13) and Matt Haarms (3), Brigham Young Cougars guard, make jokes off the bench while their teammates play against Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Harigh Young Cougars Center Richard Harward (42) is getting ready to shoot over Mikey Henn (24) of Portland Pilots at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Alex Barcello (13), Brigham Young Cougars guard, strikes Portland Pilots forward Eddie Davis (13) on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Kolby Lee (40) holds the ball to Mikey Henn (24), forward of Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Hunter Seymour (23), forward of Portland Pilots, will try to stop Brigham Young Cougars center Richard Harward (42) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) drives past Hayden Curtiss (15) on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars coach Mark Pope celebrates after beating Portland on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Matt Haarms (3) watches over Portland Pilots Guard Quincy Ferebee (4) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Matt Haarms (3), forward of Brigham Young Cougars, smiles after scoring two of his 23 points in the game against Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Matt Haarms (3), forward of Brigham Young Cougars, scored two of his 23 points in the game against Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Alex Barcello (13), Brigham Young Cougars guard, will drive past Portland Pilots forward Eddie Davis (13) on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) will drive past Eddie Davis (13) at Portland Pilots on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) drives past Portland Pilots Guard Ahmed Ali (2) on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Harigh Young Cougars Center Richard Harward (42) walks down the floor on a loose ball found on Thursday, January 21, 2021 by Eddie Davis (13), Portland Pilots (13), at the Marriott Center in Provo is.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Second half boom
The Pilots kept the game close for half – they trailed by six at halftime – and held on in the first minutes of the second half before the Cougars pulled away with an impressive shooting display.
At one point in the second half, BYU made 14 of 15 shots and made 21 of 32 shots (65.6%) in the final 20 minutes – the Cougars shot 57.1% for the game. BYU outscored Portland 58-36 in the second half.
The Cougars also scored 9 of 17 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes – and 14 of 33 – while beating seven players from BYU 3s, led by three each from Trevin Knell and Connor Harding.
A great help
The team’s ability to share the ball was a major driving force behind the Cougars’ attacking display. BYU scored 28 shots on 36 goals, including 17 in the second half.
Two cougar finishes with six assistants – Barcello, who also scored 10 points, and Caleb Lohner, who added nine points and six rebounds.