Cougars fall to Pacific on the road

BYU vs. Pacific Notes and Quotes

BYU vs. Pacific Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. – The BYU men’s basketball team fell 89-82 to Pacific on the road despite Matt Carlino’s 28 points on Thursday.

"Our guys were ready and we came out with a good plan,"  BYU basketball coach Dave Rose said. "I think our guys had a lot of energy and got off to a great start and then they matched it. They got four or five offensive rebound putbacks to get themselves going. We let them get rolling. We didn't make them make some tough shots to get going."

Carlino added four assists to go along with his season-high 28 points, while Tyler Haws added 20 points before fouling out with 1:08 left in the game.

Skyler Halford put up 14 points and Kyle Collinsworth finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Nate Austin grabbed seven rebounds to go with a block and two steals.

BYU got off to a quick 9-0 start with Haws, Halford and Collinsworth each contributing. Pacific responded back with a 12-0 run to take the 14-11 lead until a Collinsworth field goal from the baseline made it a one-point game at the 11:37 mark.

After Carlino connected on a 3-pointer and a jumper, the Cougars retook the 20-17 lead as part of a 12-2 run. Haws’ shot off the glass and Anson Winder’s drive down the lane were included during BYU’s run. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way and the Cougars were led by Carlino's three from beyond the arc in the last 4:16 of the half as BYU went into the break with an 38-35 lead.

Carlino led all players with 14 points, hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, while Haws added nine points and two rebounds. Collinsworth also contributed four points and five rebounds at the half.

The Tigers opened up the second half with a 5-0 run until Haws’ trip to the free-throw line tied it at 40 a piece. Halford’s 3-pointer gave the Cougars a one-point lead with Collinsworth’s layup in transition putting BYU up 47-45. Pacific took back the lead after a 6-0 run with under 14 minutes remaining. Collinsworth answered back with a basket at the other end on three consecutive possessions to keep it a one-point game.

With Pacific extending its lead 62-53, Halford’s jumper and steal by Josh Sharp that led to Haws’ three-point play cut BYU’s deficit to four with 9:39 remaining. After Pacific surged to a 15-point lead at 78-63, Carlino connected on another 3-pointer and converted a three-point play to cut Pacific’s lead to nine. With 2:01 left, Austin’s steal led to a breakaway dunk to make it a two-possession game, but it was not enough to overcome the Tigers’ second-half run.  

The Cougars stay on the road to take on Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 5 p.m. PST. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Cougar IMG Sports Network on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM.