Individual Notes
Jake Toolson started the game shooting 5 of 6, scoring a first half career-high 14 points as he made his way to 25 points. He hit seven treys for a new career best. He also added five assists and three rebounds.
Yoeli Childs has scored in double figures in each game he has played in this season as he recorded 21 points. The forward also added nine rebounds and six assists.
With 13 points, Alex Barcello buried three treys and grabbed four rebounds and two steals while dishing out four assists.
TJ Haws contributed 12 points, six assists and three rebounds. Kolby Lee added 10 points and two rebounds.
Team Notes
In the first half, the Cougars shot 58.6 percent from the field compared to the Waves’ 48.1 percent as BYU held a 46-38 advantage. The Cougars buried eight 3-pointers in the first half as they shot 57.1 percent from beyond the arc.
BYU’s 17 treys make it the 11th game this season that the Cougars have scored 10 or more, tying them for the third-most games with double-digits 3s in a season in BYU history. The 17 3-pointers ties the program record for most 3s in a single game. It is the fourth time in program history BYU has made 17 3s in a game and the second time this season.
Today’s 107-80 win was the first time BYU scored over 100 points this season. The last game was Dec. 1, 2018, against Weber State.
On the game, BYU recorded 61.2 percent shooting from the field, 60.7 percent from 3 and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe while Pepperdine tallied 49.1 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from beyond the arc and 72.0 percent from the free throw line.
Postgame Quotes
BYU forward Yoeli Childs
On taking the lead and then losing it
"We are learning from our mistakes. The first half felt a lot like that San Francisco game and that was super disappointing. We jumped out to an early lead, we looked like we were playing comfortable and then we let them get back into it. We were really fired up at halftime, from learning from our past mistakes and not letting one loss turn into two."
On the San Fransisco loss
"We are a really veteran team. Everyone was really locked in about this game. Obviously, we were disappointed but that is when teams get tripped up. They let a loss affect them, they get down on themselves and start doubting their principles and what makes them good. We really tried to stay locked in and we we haven’t dropped two in a row. That will never happen with this team."
On the Saint Mary’s game
"We are fired up. I think we are locked in. We definitely got better tonight. We are really excited to put 40 minutes together. Saint Mary’s is a great team. They are well coached and they play the right way. But, we are a great team too and we are excited for the battle."
BYU guard Jake Toolson
On the mentality after giving up the double-digit lead.
"I think we know that it’s a game of runs. Teams are going to make runs, we are going to make runs. I think it is just staying together, keeping that fight and trying to win the next play. We want to have that mentality and not the 'Oh, no. Here we go again' mentality. We are trying to live in the moment and in the present and get a stop on that possession or execute offensively."
On their play in the second half
"I think we did a good job. We were sharing the ball, spreading them out and making them choose what they were going to do. Our bigs did a good job spraying out from the posts and I think we just fought to earn the best shot."
On his 3-pointer shooting
"I always feel good out there when we are getting good looks as a team, when we are taking the best shot that we can each possession. I feel like we have guys that we want to shoot open shots. There was one play where I drove in the first half and I hit Zac Seljaas in the corner and I got mad at him because he passed up an open shot. That is what this team is about, we take the open shots, it doesn’t matter who it is."
BYU head coach Mark Pope
On tonight's win
"Really happy with our guys. We weren't great tonight but we were good. Our guys have a great sense of how we can be great. I'm happy with the outcome. This Pepperdine team is really, really good. They have a couple big-time players that are hard to figure out. It's a big win."
On scoring over 100 points despite not playing great
"We shot the ball well but our attention is on the other side of the ball right now. We were really good in the first half defensively, then we let up a run in the first half. I wasn't super satisfied with the last seven minutes of the second half. Defense has to be our identity right now. February has to be an angry month. We have to come with an attitude and go get stops on every possessions."
On Toolson's performance
"Yeah, he's a star. He's an All-American player. He is one of the premiere shooters in the country. He's trying to take an increasing leadership role with this team. I was really happy with him. He shot the living daylights out of the ball, but we need to keep getting better, Jake included."
On the recent runs
"I know our guys feel a little spent, a little stretched. These guys have stretched immeasurably. They bring it every night and have had a ridiculously difficult schedule with an incredibly small rotation. They've performed at a really high level. We have to replace that fatigue with a little anger and determination. February sometimes is not the most fun month, it's a grind. But, if we do it right it will be really fun to see where we get."