BYU basketball dropped another game in a classic college basketball game.
This game had everything you love and hate about college basketball. It was a physical, hard-fought game, with head-scratching calls from the officiating and extremely poor free throw shooting from both teams.
The end of this game was one to behold; BYU employed a hack-a-Lawson Lovering strategy and Hunter Erickson airballed a clutch free throw. Richie Saunders was called for what appeared to be a phantom foul call in the closing minutes. After everything that happened in this wild overtime thriller, it all came down to a one-and-one opportunity for Trevin Knell with under 10 seconds left in overtime.
“You win and lose on the margins,” said BYU head coach Kevin Young. “We’ve come up short too many times.”
When Knell stepped to the free-throw line, he had the opportunity to become a BYU legend and win the game for the Cougars. Down 73-72, Knell, a 78% free throw shooter, could not connect. The Cougars fell to the Utes 73-72 in a heartbreaking ending that leaves the Young’s squad 2-4 in Big 12 play.
“This game is so fragile,” said Young. “If Trevin steps up and bangs two free throws, Craig’s [Smith] pissed and I’m not.”
The inability to make free throws and close games has been contagious throughout the team all season long. The inability to close games comes down to many things, and it was more than poor free throw shooting that cost the Cougars the game against the Utes. BYU’s inability to guard Ezra Ausar in the second half was problematic.
However, 4 of 10 from the free line for the game and 0 of 5 in the second half was no doubt a losing formula. BYU took 22 more shots, turned the ball over eight times (Utah had 11 turnovers) and outscored Utah 13-8 in second-chance points while being outrebounded by three.
BYU played well enough to win but left seven free points at the free-throw line in the second half, which cost them. Aside from Knell’s missed free throw at the end, Egor Demin missed a pair of free throws with less than 10 minutes left in the second half, and Saunders missed a one-and-one with 4:30 left in the second half. If BYU can muster another point from the free throw line, the Cougars probably win this game.
That has been the story all season long for the Cougars. If one more shot goes down, they grab one more rebound, hit one more free throw, or cut out one turnover, it would be a much different season for BYU.
The Cougars' free throw shooting against Utah was emblematic of how the season has gone in Young’s first season in Provo. BYU has had opportunities to win games, but the fragility of basketball has them sitting at 11-6 overall this season and 2-4 in conference play.