Postgame Notes: BYU 59, LMU 64

The following notes and quotes are from BYU’s 64-59 loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday, January 5, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Series Results: BYU leads 22-6

Attendance: 1,147

TEAM NOTES

Sharing the Rock Early

BYU led LMU 11-9 in the early going with each of the starting five registering points in the first 4:30. The Cougars scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting by the first media timeout against the Lions.

Protecting the Ball

Despite averaging 16.6 turnovers per game during the seven-game win streak, the Cougars cherished the basketball as they only committed five turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

Pounding the Paint

In the first 20 minutes, 24 of the Cougars 33 points came in the painted area against the frontline of LMU that includes 7-1 230-pound Rick Issanza, 6-9 Alex Merkviladze and 6-6 240-pound Keli Leaupepe.

The Cougars finished with 59 total points, 46 of which came down low.

Tongue Tied

BYU was tied at the half for the second consecutive game and fourth time under head coach Mark Pope. All four contests have come against WCC opponents.

PLAYERS NOTES

Fouss in the Lion’s Den

With his 13-point performance, Fousseyni Traore has now scored in double figures in all four career meetings against LMU and seven of the last eight contests.

The sophomore was 6-of-11 on the night which marks his 16th game this season shooting over 50 percent from the field. Traore also recorded five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. After converting on his only trip to the line, Traore has now made 27 of his last 29 free throws.

Dallin “Post-up” Hall

The 6-4 guard finished with 10 points, all of which came on turn-around jumpers or baby-hook shots in the paint. The true freshman also tallied four assists, two rebounds and a steal to add to his final stat line.

Gideon the Great

With 13 points on the night, Gideon George notched his 13th double-digit scoring performance of the season. He went 6-of-13 from the floor while grabbing five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

The three steals matches George’s career high and mark the 13th game this season in which the senior has recorded at least one steal.

SEASON HIGHS