Hot start helps Cougars cruise to victory

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The “big three” helped the BYU men’s basketball team take care of business against the Georgia State Panthers with a final score of 80-62.

Brandon Davies, Tyler Haws and Matt Carlino contributed 61 of the 80 points BYU scored. Davies led the way with 28.

The Cougars got off to a quick start, with back-to-back three-pointers from Haws. The team did not stop there. At the 10:31 mark the score was 31-2 for the boys in white.

“We were playing great,” Davies said. “Shots were falling; we were sharing the ball. It’s exactly what we wanted to do.”

Even Coach Dave Rose was a bit taken back with how the shots were falling in the first part of the game.

“I think it surprised all of us that the score was what it was early on,” Rose said. “I was really proud of how our guys took the challenge to attack this team.”

Rose praised the Panthers for their resiliency and their ability to create turnovers.

Georgia State ended up with 13 steals and caused BYU to turn the ball over 16 times. These turnovers helped the Panthers claw back a little bit and cut the deficit to 44-26 at halftime.

The Panthers lone returning starter from last year’s 22-win season, Devonta White, ended up with 14 points, 3 steals and 3 assists. Manny Atkins led the team with 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Behind Davies 28, Haws put in 22 and Carlino added 11 and was able to control the game.

“Matt was terrific on getting his shoulders past people and just attacking them,” Rose said. “Matt was finding guys. The shots from the first five minutes of the game was all because of Matt.”

Rose is pleased with Carlino’s leadership and believes he is a bigger, stronger, more talented player from what he was a year ago.

This game was the second game as part of the Coaches versus Cancer Classic. BYU will travel to New York Wednesday for the championship rounds of the CVC Classic to play against Florida State on Friday and then either Notre Dame or Saint Joseph’s Saturday.

“We are just going out there to get our next win,” Davies said. “That is first on our mind.”

Coach Rose is a cancer survivor and is honored to be a part of this tournament.

“I feel really privileged. It is a prestigious tournament,” Rose said. “The cause of the tournament is really special to me and my family. Hopefully, we can continue to raise funds and bring awareness. Someday we’ll have a cure for this thing.”

Rose mentioned how it will be a challenge for the team to play away from home and go up against a big, physical team in Florida State.

The game will be broadcast on Nov. 16, at 7:00 EST on KSL News Radio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM.

 

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