The BYU men’s basketball team is looking to move forward following its crushing loss to Gonzaga as they take on the Portland Pilots Saturday night.
The Cougars stand in third place in the WCC with a 5–2 conference record and a 15–6 overall record and will travel to a struggling Pilots team that holds a 8–13 overall record and a 1–5 record in conference play. The Pilots have lost their last three games, all on their home court.
After scoring 20-plus points for seven consecutive games, Tyler Haws ended with one point against Gonzaga that came off of a free throw. Although Brandon Davies struggled in the first half, his activity in the second half was a positive sign for the Cougars.
“I think that put us a little out of our heads because we gain confidence through guys like Brandon and Tyler,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said.
While the opposing teams’ focus has been on players like Haws and Davies, the role players have stepped up in times of trouble. Josh Sharp’s 14-point outing against Gonzaga was his season high and Matt Carlino has scored in double-digits in seven straight games.
If the Cougars have proven one thing, it’s that they don’t give up. Although Gonzaga was hitting on all cylinders, BYU’s effort was something to be proud of for Rose.
“None of that affected our effort though,” Rose said. “I thought our guys played really hard and never gave up.”
The Cougars tip off in Portland at 7:30 p.m. PST at the Chiles Center on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU and KSL radio.
