BYU vs. Texas Southern Postgame Notes and Quotes

The following notes are from BYU's 87-71 win over Texas Southern on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, at the Marriott Center.

 ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS: BYU leads 3-0

TEAM NOTES

Playing with the lead
BYU has held a lead for 110:27 of the past 120:00 of play.

Sharing the ball
BYU had 26 assists in the game as a team, the second most in a game for the Cougars this season and the most since the season opener against Westminster.

PLAYER NOTES

Brandon Averette
Coming off of a clutch game winner in his previous game, tonight Averette went off for a season-high 30 points. It's the most points a Cougar player has scored in a game this season.

Alex Barcello
Barcello was the first Cougar to record a double-double this season, scoring 10 points and dishing out a career-high 10 assists against Texas Southern. He was 2-3 from three and is shooting 63% from beyond the arc this season, which is No. 1 in the country among players who have attempted at least 40 threes.

Matt Haarms
Haarms was second in scoring for BYU with 16 points, two off of his season high. He scored 12 in the first half.

Notable career highs/career firsts

Career-high points: Averette (30)
Career-high assists: Barcello (10)
Career-high 3-pointers made: Averette (6)
First double-double of the season: Barcello (10 points/10 assists)

COACH AND PLAYER QUOTES

Mark Pope

On the victory

“I’m really, really pleased with our team. This is a really dangerous team and took Saint Mary’s to the wire at their place — actually started the game up 12-2 and really put it on them, came back from 21-down to beat Wyoming, played Auburn even on the road for 25 minutes. They’re a group of high-major Division I transfers. Johnny Jones is a big-time coach. We were feeling a lot of anxiety about this game, and we felt like it was a real test of our team’s maturity, and I think they answered the bell. I’m super proud of them.”

On Brandon Averette’s growing confidence

“I’m not surprised that Brandon is on a little bit of the trajectory that Alex Barcello was on last year. We don’t really remember, but Alex had some frustrating moments early in the season last year as he tried to figure out how we played and how we operated, what works, and how we function. Alex had some early foul trouble issues early in the season last year, not unlike Brandon. Clearly, we’ve watched Alex — the last two-thirds of the season was so extraordinary last year, and I think it’s a combination of me being a really bad coach and communicator and our stuff being a little bit complicated, so there is a learning curve. I think what is interesting is Brandon’s confidence, not just in his game, but his understanding of how we play, and what we look for, and why it works is growing. I’m super proud of him. He’s been super huge for us.”

Brandon Averette

On what he feels is working for him right now

“I’m just trying to keep it simple, just trying to find my way in this system — shoot open shots, pick my spots here and there, get to the free throw line a little bit, and just have fun out there. I think that’s the biggest thing that’s been helping me.”

On the importance of tonight’s game after Saturday’s upset in San Diego

“That was really important. We were stressing this game, probably more than we were San Diego State. Those big-time, top 25 ranked games, we’re always going to show up for those games, but these kinds of lower-level games — teams tend to overlook those games and might slip up. Coach kept reminding us that this was going to be the hardest game of the year for us, and I think we took on that mentality, and we went out there and handled our business.”

Richard Harward

On what it’s like to see Brandon Averette’s recent success

“Brandon Averette is one of the most clutch players I’ve ever met. I knew him when he was at UVU, and I knew this guy was going to be a legend when he came over to BYU. It’s really satisfying for me, and it’s really exciting to see him stepping into that role and just being that reliable guy.”

On what the versatility of the bigs bring to the team

“I feel like it’s tough for teams to guard us when me, Matt and Kolby are feeling it in the post. If they double in, then we kick it out and they hit open threes. Brandon Averette is dropping 30, Alex Barcello is dropping points, Trevin Knell is one of the best three-point shooters I know. It helps the bigs, and it helps the guards, because if they suck in, the guards hit a three. If they space out, then the bigs know we’re bigger, we’re stronger and we can go to work and be patient in the post and not worry about a double.”