Haws leads Cougars in overtime win against USF

BYU vs. San Francisco Box Score

BYU vs. San Francisco Postgame Notes

PROVO, Utah ­– BYU men’s basketball won an overtime thriller 75-73 against San Francisco Saturday afternoon in the Marriott Center.

"I'm really happy for our guys." BYU head coach Dave Rose said. "We made enough plays to get it into overtime and one more play to win it, so good for us."

Elijah Bryant earned a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while TJ Haws led the Cougars in points with 26. Haws also added seven assists while Yoeli Childs contributed 20 points and nine rebounds.

The Cougars found themselves behind 63-57 with 39 seconds on the clock and USF at the free-throw line. The Dons missed both, Haws grabbed the rebound and Childs scored quickly on the other end, pulling BYU within four, 63-59

Following a steal by Bryant on the ensuing inbounds play, Jahshire Hardett scored his first basket of the game with 13 seconds to go. Hardnett was fouled on the make and he completed the three-point play, bringing the Cougars within one, 63-62.

After USF scored a quick two on the other end, Haws brought the ball down the court and found an open Bryant who sank a 3-pointer, tying the game at 65-65 with four seconds left in the game. A missed jumper from USF sent the game into overtime.

The Dons started overtime with two jumpers but Bryant and Haws answered with perfect trips to the free-throw line to tie the game at 69-69. A 3-pointer from USF put the Dons ahead 72-69 but Haws answered with a layup to bring the Cougars back within one. A foul on Bryant sent USF to the free-throw line where the Dons converted 1 of 2 for a 73-71 lead.

Another layup from Haws with 40 seconds to go tied the game at 73-73. With three seconds left on the clock, USF fouled Haws, sending him to the line where he went 2 of 2, giving BYU the lead 75-73. USF inbounded the ball and missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Cougars the win.

The Dons got an early lead going up 6-0 in the first two minutes forcing BYU to call the first timeout of the game. However, the Cougars answered back, going on an 8-0 including a 3-pointer from Haws giving the Cougars their first lead of the game, 12-8.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Bryant put the Cougars up 22-19 with five minutes to go in the first half. The Dons executed and were able to make a layup, bringing the game within one-point, 22-21. A pair of 3-pointers from USF gave the Dons a 27-24 lead but a Worthington jumper sent the Cougars into half-time down one-point, 27-26.

The Cougars turned the ball over to open the second half, resulting in a Dons bucket and a 29-26 lead. With 16 minutes left in the half, the Cougars hit back-to-back baskets, tying the game 34-34.

Trailing 39-37, BYU jumped ahead with a 7-0 run that started with a Haws 3-pointer and ended with Childs hitting two from the line. USF answered, however, going on a 6-0 run and taking the lead once again, 45-44.

With 5:50 left in the second half and the score tied 52-52 the Dons hit a jumper and converted a three-point play for a five-point lead, 57-52. San Francisco took its largest lead of the game 61-54 with 3:05 remaining, but BYU made its charge in the final minute to send the game into overtime. 

The Cougars hit the road to take on Pepperdine in Malibu, California, on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. PST. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and radio broadcasts can be found on BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143, the BYU Sports Network and KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM.