BYU vs. Idaho State Game Recap
Player Notes
Yoeli Childs led all scorers with 20 points, his fourth 20-plus point game this season, while grabbing eight rebounds, a career-high four steals and adding two blocks.
Payton Dastrup scored a career-high 14 points, shooting 5-5 from the field, including two treys. He also recorded four rebounds and one assist.
Elijah Bryant and TJ Haws each contributed 14 points in the win. Bryant only missed one shot on the night and added four rebounds. Haws also tallied three assists and two rebounds.
Zac Seljaas tied his career-high five assists and scored seven points.
Team Notes
In the first half, the Cougars shot 60 percent from the field and only had two turnovers, both are season records for the first half. Defensively, BYU held Idaho State to 11 percent from the 3-point line.
The Cougars finished the game shooting 58.3 percent, making it their fourth-straight game shooting over 50 percent.
Quotes
BYU guard Jahshire Hardnett
On tonight's mindset after Utah
"We just came into practices with the same mindset that we want to win. So we got to practice and just stuck to it defensively and we came out with a win. We play with no agenda. If we feel that Yoeli is playing at a high level right now, so we feel that he needs to get more touches."
On playing Texas Tech Saturday
"They are a talented team. They have the hardest schedule in the country. They haven't won any games by their record, but they're a talented team. They have a bunch of good transfers and they will be a tough game. We won't be going in thinking it's going to be an easy game because of their record, they definitely will be coming out to play."
BYU guard Zac Seljaas
How their game is different from last year
"We still like to push the ball in transition and be able to get the quick shots, but if there is nothing up there than we are able to move it and have everyone touch the ball. It's a team game and to be able to win you have to play as a team. That is our mentality. We all have been in that spotlight before, whether it was in high school or other places, and so to be able to come together as a team is a transition. Every week there is a new guy out there doing his thing."
On how Payton is playing lately
"Payton is the funniest and most outgoing guy and it shows on the court as well. When he comes in and he's just happy, ready to go and so energetic. That has brought a lot of energy to our team as well. When he comes in he brings a big spark and it's awesome. It gets us to come together and get going."
BYU head coach Dave Rose
Thoughts on game
"I am proud of our guys and what they have gone through with an emotional game last week and finals this week. We got a good win tonight and I think that offensively our game plan was good. We were patient and went side-to-side. We took advantage of our opportunities. On the defensive end we were a step slow. We now have to prepare for a totally different style with Texas Southern. So hopefully we can get a game plan in and a little rest before the game on Saturday."
"We have a group that’s learning how to go from one style to another. I think we can still be a really good transition team. Payton (Dastrup) is really developing in the post. We can play through our post guys. I think that we continue to get better and we showed signs of getting better in this game. At Idaho State, Bill (Evans) has himself a nice squad that demands a second defender and has really nice shooters. I think he’s going got have a really good year."
Payton Dastrup coming into his own
"He really continues to grow defensively. We played a lot of zone with him in there tonight, and I think he’s really effective in there naturally. He’s proven he’s a guy that can step in and really help this team, which is a great thing as you continue to play and lose some guys to injuries and watch other guys step up. Hopefully when you get the whole package pack, you have a group of guys that can handle the nine-week league stretch."
Idaho State head coach Bill Evans
Overall assessment of the game
"We need to get to the line a little bit more than we did. We got there nine times, so we need to do a better job of getting there. BYU has a really good team and they’re really good defensively. I think we were a little bit apprehensive early on and then in the second half, we couldn’t stop Yoeli Childs."
"We did a good job of taking away the arc until we had to go to zone (defense), and then we couldn’t stop Yoeli. Dave (Rose) and his staff did a good job of understanding that. I think we had some good performances. Geno (Luzcando) played outstanding. I will never ever point fingers at my players for playing bad – I didn’t do a good job of coaching tonight. Our guys played hard the whole time. We were down by 22 points and cut it to 12. All in all, Dave has a good team and we came in and competed hard."