PROVO, Utah – Coming off an exciting Cougar Tipoff, BYU basketball will play its first of two exhibitions in preparation for the 2015-16 season when it hosts Arizona Christian in the Marriott Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. MDT. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and broadcast on the Cougar IMG Sports Network on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.
Freshmen Nick Emery and Zac Seljaas led the way in the Cougar Tipoff with 19 points apiece. Kyle Davis added 10 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while Jake Toolson (16 points), Elijah Bryant (14) and Cory Calvert (10) also scored in double figures.
BYU finished 25-10 overall and 13-5 to finish second in the West Coast Conference in 2014-15. The Cougars received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they were eliminated by Ole Miss in the first round. Entering this season, Kyle Collinsworth and Chase Fischer were named preseason All-WCC and the Cougars were picked to finish second in the WCC by the league’s coaches.
Arizona Christian posted a 25-9 record in 2014-15 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA Division I National Championships. The Firestorm were picked to win the Golden State Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches’ poll. ACU is coached by Jeff Rutter and returns four of five starters, including NAIA All-American Brandon Newman and All-GSAC forward Sherif Watson. Rutter also welcomes the services of transfers Chris Sterling, Collin Wood and Trevor Clay.
The Firestorm opened this season with a 107-89 win over Life Pacific College. Sterling led the way with 24 points while Bobby Gray (22) and Newman (21) also eclipsed 20 points. ACU hit 49 of 67 free throws, hit eight 3s and had 14 steals.
Friday’s game is the first of two exhibitions the Cougars will play in the preseason. BYU will take on Alaska at home on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. MST.