Player Notes
After scoring eight points in the first half, Yoeli Childs went on to record his 24th consecutive game in double figures with a total of 28 points. Childs' 20 second half points tie a career high for points in a half – he also scored 20 in the second half vs. Pacific on Jan. 27, 2018. He added 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double this season and added three assists and one block. Childs now has 31 career double-doubles, tied for fifth all-time in BYU history.
McKay Cannon started his fourth game this season and scored a season-high 11 points. He shot 50 percent from the field while adding four rebounds, four steals (ties a career high) and three assists.
TJ Haws contributed seven assists, six points and three rebounds.
Team Notes
In the first half, the Cougars defense kept Portland from hitting a field goal for a total of 10 minutes and 43 seconds.
Six different BYU players hit a trey in the first half (Childs, Cannon, Harding, Bergersen, Seljaas and Emery) as the Cougars went 6 of 14 for 40 percent.
On the game, BYU shot 49.1 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the free throw line. The Pilots recorded 37.3 percent from the field, 26.1 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
The 56 points scored by Portland are the fewest points allowed by BYU this season.
Postgame Quotes
BYU forward Yoeli Childs
What was happening in the first half in terms of getting those fouls?
We were obviously playing a little bit too aggressive. I think the refs actually did a really good job at calling it even both ways, I think both teams got into quite a bit of foul trouble, but I think it’s all about how you fight through adversity and that was the adversity that we had to fight through tonight. I think our guys did a nice job at keeping our heads up and continuing to play hard.
How big was Rylan’s 3-point shot going into the break?
It was huge. A three-point game at half-time is a lot different than a six-point game at half-time, especially with us coming in with the ball. It gave us a little bit of momentum and little bit of juice going into the second half.
What do you attribute the 3-point shooting to tonight?
It’s just the work that everyone puts in. The entire season we’ve trusted our 3-point shot. We have really good shooters on the team, we have some of the best shooters I’ve ever played with or seen. When you look at the numbers guys have put up in the off-season, the numbers guys put up during practice, you just have to continue to trust what we do. Shooters gotta shoot. Zac’s open, we’re always trusting him to knock it down. TJ’s open, we’re always trusting him to knock it down. We just trust ourselves and we trust our teammates.
How do you deal with the hardships that have been going on this season?
I think every team is going through stuff. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity this year and I know guys individually are going through a lot of things personally in their own lives. But that’s something that isn’t super uncommon. You just have to pick your guys up. We’re a brotherhood and when guys are down, every other guy on the team has to go pick him up and I think every other team in the country knows exactly what I’m talking about. It’s bigger than basketball. A lot of people want to blame everything on basketball, but a lot of stuff is bigger than basketball and that’s why I’m grateful that we’re a brotherhood and we have each other’s backs.
BYU guard Zac Seljaas
How is it to be back home playing in front of your fans?
It’s awesome, it’s been what, 29 days since we’ve been in here? It’s like a month away and we missed our fans, we missed playing in front of all of these great Cougar fans and the ROC. We missed being in the Marriott Center where it’s basically our home. We just missed it and it’s great to be back.
What’s that like to have Yoeli on the court going to work and getting 20 points in the second half?
It’s awesome. You’re watching basically an NBA prospect right on the court. You’re watching him do all of these amazing things, and more important than that, once he does it, it opens it up for everyone else. That’s what’s awesome about Yoeli, he can go on and go for 10 in a row and they’ll start playing him to that and then he can just dish it out and get all of his assists. He’s such a great player that’s so fun to play with because he has that all-around game, which opens the whole floor afterwards.
BYU head coach Dave Rose
It's good to be home. I think our guys came out with great focus and energy. I thought we played the first 10 minutes as well as we've played all year long.
After that, we got a lead and got into some foul trouble. There were a lot of fouls – 14 in the first half I think. Our guys had to adjust to that. The next 10 minutes were erratic. We were taking the first available shot instead of taking our time and finding the best shot.
In the second half, I thought we played 20 minutes more like the first 10 minutes of the first half. We're pleased with the win.
How was Yoeli Childs able to carry the team in the second half?
I think we got him really stationary in the first half. He was on the move a little more in the second half, catching passes in tougher situations. He made some great passes. He stepped out and hit a 3, and that causes some real problems for other coaches to figure out what to do. They need to decide whether to step out or not. I like how he played in the second half.
What went well on defense?
I thought we gave good help. We were really focused and dialed in. It was a much better effort as a group. This team plays with a much better edge and focus to them when we're ahead.
Was it a plan to get younger players more minutes?
The practices we've had the last couple weeks, we've had some guy who have made a big jump forward. Young players usually have more success at home. We got a little bit deeper than we wanted to, with guys playing out of position because of the foul situation, but it was good experience for them.