PROVO, Utah – Jahshire Hardnett and TJ Haws led the Blue team to an 81-77 comeback win over the White team in Friday’s annual Cougar Tipoff presented by Papa John’s at the Marriott Center.
“It was a good night and the guys played hard,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said. “I expected this to be a close game and I was surprised when the White team came off with the lead that they did. I thought Blue had balanced and experienced scorers and in the end it paid off.”
Hardnett and Luke Worthington scored 18 points apiece while Haws added 16 to lead the Blue team. Haws also led with nine rebounds while Hardnett added a team-best six assists.
Yoeli Childs led all players in points with 35, while Zac Seljaas added 12 points for the White team. Childs also tied Haws for the game-high rebound total at nine and McKay Cannon led White with three assists.
The White team got off to a strong start with a 9-1 run including a 3-pointer by Seljaas, and two by Childs. After a layup by Hardnett to double the score for the Blue team, the White team scored three more points off a layup and free throw by Gavin Baxter to put the score at 14-4.
Haws put eight quick points on the board for the Blue team with two 3-pointers and a jumper, pulling his team within eight at 20-12.
Two dunks by Childs increased the White team’s lead to 16 points, putting the score at 38-22. Blue reduced White’s lead to 11 points with a 3-pointer by Hardnett and free throws by Worthington, putting the score at 43-32.
White led most of the way in the first half, maintaining a seven-point lead at halftime, 43-36. Childs led the White team with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Hardnett led the Blue team with 13 points and Haws led with six rebounds.
Worthington opened the second half for Blue with a field goal, making the score 43-38. Haws drained another 3-pointer on the left side, cutting White’s lead to 48-46. However, Jesse Wade’s 3-pointer and Rylan Bergersen’s layup added to White’s lead 57-51.
With Blue trailing by four, Hardnett and Haws hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give their squad a 61-59 lead. White created the first tie of the game with a Childs jump shot, bringing the score to 61-61.
With two 3-pointers by Taylor Maughan and two free throws by Hardnett for Blue as well as an assist by McKay Cannon and a dunk by Bergerson for White, the teams traded leads and ties until Blue took the comeback and snagged the win 81-77.
The Cougars will return to the court on Oct. 24 when they take on the Saints from Saint Martins at the Marriott Center at 7 p.m. MDT. The game will be live broadcast on BYUtv.org, and audio will also be available through BYU Radio Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2, BYU Sports Network and KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM. Live stats will also be broadcast on byucougars.com.