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Alexa Anderson
| Posted: 7 Jan 2017 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
BYU vs. Pacific Postgame Notes
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BYU vs. Pacific Facebook Gallery
PLAYER NOTES
With his 11 first-half points, Eric Mika kept his streak alive for scoring in double figures in every game this season. Finishing the contest with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mika recorded his third straight double-double and his ninth of the season.
Elijah Bryant scored a season- and career-best 13 first-half points. Bryant ended the game with a career- and team-high 17 points, scoring in double figures for the second-straight game. The sophomore went 5 of 7 (71.4 percent) from the field for his best outing of the season.
Nick Emery finished the game with 12 points, going 2 of 5 from behind the arc. He now has at least one 3-point field goal in 26-straight games, tying Chase Fischer for the second longest streak in BYU history.
TJ Haws’ 15 points made for his 12th double-figure outing of the year. Haws finished the game shooting 3 of 7 from behind the arc. The freshman now has three or more 3-point field goals in eight games this season. Haws also tallied three assists and a career-high seven rebounds.
Yoeli Childs reached double figures for the sixth time this season with 14 points. With his three blocks tonight, Childs is tied with Trent Plaisted for sixth most by a Cougar freshman (27).
In the win, Payton Dastrup recorded a new career-best two blocks.
Colby Leifson finished the game with six points, tying a career-high. His two 3-pointers also make for a career-best.
TEAM NOTES
The Cougars took an 18-point 47-29 lead into the break, its second largest halftime lead of the season. BYU ended the game with a 29-point 91-62 win, its second largest margin of victory in conference play.
For the first time this season, five Cougars scored in double figures—Bryant (17), Mika (17), Haws (15), Childs (14), and Emery (12).
BYU shot 16 of 17 (94.1 percent) from the foul line in the first half, its best half from the line this season.
The Cougars outrebounded the Tigers 49 to 39 through 40 minutes of play, and totaled 40 defensive rebounds to Pacific’s 25.
In the win, BYU recorded 30 bench points in comparison to its 16 bench points against Saint Mary’s on Thursday.
QUOTES
BYU head coach Dave Rose
On the victory:
I’m proud of the guys. I think they responded well to a missed opportunity the other night. I thought defensively we had a good start to the game. Second half, we did really well offensively and we shared the ball well. There were some things we knew from the game the other night. Tonight in the first half we got to the free-throw line better and converted there. There were a lot of things I thought the guys were good at and I’m happy for the win.
On Elijah Bryant’s development:
I still think he’s a ways away. Tonight he was pretty efficient and he hit his first couple shots. But he is a guy who is extremely versatile. He can score off the dribble. He is a good 3-point shooter. He is a good free-throw shooter. He’s strong around the rim as far as finishing. We’ve missed him, but in the process, a couple of the other guys have developed well for us so hopefully it will make us better. There are some adjustments going on right now with our group and bringing him back should make us stronger.
On winning games:
It’s really hard to win games. When you get your guys from a missed opportunity and you get them to play together as well as we played tonight, that’s a good sign. A lot of times that happens, but individual guys want to go to their individual places. Then you end up with another loss. The fact they rallied around each other, shared the ball, defended well and rebounded well together as a group, I think we can build on that.
On San Francisco:
They are a really well-coached, execution kind of team. Offensively, they spread you out and shoot 3s. It’s going to be a battle.
On Pacific loss last year:
I was here last year behind the bench with a suit on, so I knew they beat us last year, and I was ready to play.
On his development:
Whatever coach wants me to play, whatever it is to get the win. I’ll do whatever.
On shutting down Pacific's offense:
The coaches had a great game plan to not give them any confidence from the start, and to bury them.
Versatility of the team:
It’s fun playing four guards. When we play four guards, we have four very good shooters out on the floor which is hard to guard, especially if we can get in the paint and penetrate. They have to pick their poison. It’s really good for us when we can play four guards and a few bigs and change things up.
Win at home:
Our home court is super important. I give credit to our fans. Playing in the Marriott Center is super special to us. The energy we feel in this place makes it so fun to play in here. It’s important to come out and play our best at home and protect Provo.
On Eric Mika alley-oops:
It is nice when you have a big guy that owns the floor. Those first few steps that Eric takes, when you watch it on film, he outruns pretty much everyone. Having him run the floor like that, we try and work on it, and we’ve been playing together for a long time, so that helps.
Pacific head coach Damon Stoudamire
On stopping the pace early:
The game was manageable for about 14 minutes, and then BYU took off a bit. But even going into the half, if we would have come out aggressively in the second half, and took some things away, we could have stayed in the game. I told our guys in the locker room: it’ll go one of two ways; we can either stop competing and be down thirty, or we can start competing and try to get the lead to under 10. It went the first way, and it went that way fast.
On the environment at the Marriott Center:
It is a nice arena. It’s my first time ever being here, but it reminds me of the Delta Center, with the fans right on top of you. But it was a good atmosphere. People were really engaged and involved, and it is a place that I look forward to coming to and playing in the future.
On offensive trouble:
I don’t know if they gave us trouble or if we just didn’t go. That is what I am going to have to figure out by watching tape, but we just didn’t do a good job collectively on either end of the floor. You need to give BYU credit for that. They came and they brought the game to us.
