Player Notes
Gavin Baxter had a career-best night as he earned his first start in a Cougar uniform and went on to lead the team with a career-high 25 points. He grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds to record his first career double-double and added two blocks and one steal. He also hit two 3-pointers, his first treys as a Cougar.
Nick Emery scored a season-high 17 points as he shot 100 percent from beyond the arc, draining five buckets. Emery added a season-high four steals, two rebounds and two assists. Emery's five 3s without a miss are tied for second-most attempts without a miss in a single game in BYU history.
McKay Cannon contributed seven assists for a career-best while adding two points and one steal.
Team Notes
BYU only scored 23 points in the first half but managed to score that many in the first 8:15 in the second half.
The Cougars defense held the Lions to 23 points in the second half and forced 16 total turnovers.
On offense, BYU only made one 3 in the first half, but answered by shooting 75 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.
On the game, the Cougars shot 49.1 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from 3 and 72.7 percent from the free throw line. Loyola Marymount recorded 39.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 64.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Postgame Quotes
Freshman forward Gavin Baxter
On career-best night
First career start and I don’t think it could have gone any better. It was a lot of hard work that paid off.
On McKay’s lobs to Gavin
We didn’t plan this, but the guards drove it and McKay had three lobs to me. That’s how the game went, and it worked really well.
On energy from the student section
It was awesome to hear them chanting. Growing up here in Provo, I always wanted to play at BYU. To get my first career start and have a night like tonight with all the fans was incredible. I don’t think I could have imagined it to be any better.
Senior guard McKay Cannon
On Gavin’s play tonight
He played great and everyone got to see it. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it throughout the year at practices. He got the opportunity and he made the most of it. I’m very happy for him and glad he was successful because you want that for everyone.
How much did the team talk about pace at half time?
In the first half, LMU controlled the pace more. That’s what they do. They don’t take quick shots and they want to guard. In the second half we really got the ball out and started running. That’s when we did our best because we got in a rhythm. The first half was stagnant but in the second we had more energy and that led to an outburst.
On attitude of the team after loss to Gonzaga
We needed this win for sure. That loss hurt us. We wanted to win that game and we felt like we let some things go. It was good for us to get our flow back. It’s a long season and this helped us in our conference rankings, so it was a big win for us. Our goal is to keep the momentum going.
BYU head coach Dave Rose
On tonight's game
I’m really proud of these guys. Their pace in the first half affected us. We played more at their pace and had a hard time making shots. Then we found a way to really get the game going the way needed it to but not in our normal fashion. It’s a positive sign that our best basketball is still ahead of us. I’m proud of Gavin and happy for Nick and our whole team that competed at a really high level in the second half. We got Thursday night behind us and got on to what was next.
On Gavin's play
I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable with the decision to start and tonight was right for him and he responded in a really positive manner.
On decision to start Nick in second half
The most important thing for me coming out in the second half was our energy and our effort needed to change. The one thing Nick has always given us is his effort that is full to the top. He was so active. That 20 minutes in the second half might have been as good as we have played in here all year long.