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MALIBU, California — Virtually from the outset, it seemed prefer it was going to be a type of nights for BYU guard Alex Barcello.
A profession evening.
The senior set the tone Saturday by pulling down 5 consecutive 3-pointers throughout a four-minute stretch early within the first half and, in the long run, he poured in a career-high 33 factors on 10 of 12 capturing from the ground, 9 of 10 3-point makes an attempt, and 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
And he had zero turnovers.
Barcello’s outstanding and environment friendly efficiency helped lead the Cougars to a 91-85 victory over Pepperdine at Firestone Fieldhouse.
“It was essentially the most environment friendly 33 factors I’ve ever seen in my life,” mentioned coach Mark Pope, referring to Barcello’s 12 photographs.
“I’ve by no means seen a recreation like that ever.”
Pope in contrast it to Christian Laettner’s well-known 10 of 10 recreation in opposition to Kentucky within the 1992 Elite Eight, acknowledging that this was a a lot totally different state of affairs.
However, nonetheless.
Barcello solely missed two photographs, and he was one 3-pointer shy of tying a single-game school-record for 3-pointers made — Chase Fischer knocked down 10 in opposition to Chaminade within the 2014 Maui Invitational.
Within the crowd at Firestone Fieldhouse, a Cougar fan had an indication that learn, “It’s my birthday Barcello. Swish one for me.”
Properly, completely satisfied birthday, buddy. Barcello swished 9 of them.
Barcello had 22 factors and 6 3-pointers at halftime.
His earlier career-high was 29 factors, set final season in opposition to San Francisco. Barcello eclipsed that mark with 11:39 remaining within the recreation on his ninth 3-pointer that gave him 31 factors.
Barcello’s closing two factors got here on a pair of free throws with 20.4 seconds remaining.
Barcello credited his teammates.
“They’re so nice. They saved telling me to maintain capturing. They know my mindset. I’m not a man that likes to pressure photographs, but when the shot’s there and it’s a superb shot, I’ll shoot it. They saved discovering me,” he mentioned.
“I believed we performed rather well. We had been capable of create for one another on the offensive facet of the ball these previous two video games. We didn’t win these video games by as a lot as we wished to. We’ve received to scrub a variety of issues up on the defensive finish, however offensively, we’re simply making performs for our teammates, which is de facto particular.”
A part of the rationale for Barcello’s capturing success was how Pepperdine defended him.
“I credit score my guys nevertheless it was the way in which they had been guarding me. There have been a variety of miscommunications within the first half,” he mentioned. “Most each staff on this league is face-guarding me now and sending two to the ball.
“They'd some miscommunications, and I believe the way in which we had been shifting the ball on offense and creating for one another exploited that. Fortunately, I used to be capable of hit some photographs tonight.”
The Cougars (19-8, 7-5) had 18 assists on 32 made discipline objectives and so they shot 64% as a staff.
For the fifth consecutive recreation, BYU fielded a distinct beginning lineup.
Freshman Fousseyni Traore, who tied a career-high with 19 factors, made 8 of 11 photographs, pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked a career-high 4 photographs in final Thursday’s 83-82 time beyond regulation victory at Loyola Marymount, was sidelined Saturday resulting from an undisclosed harm.
Towards the top of the sport at LMU, Traore was hobbling and was not obtainable to play in opposition to Pepperdine (7-20, 1-11).
In Traore’s place, Caleb Lohner returned to the beginning lineup, and he made essentially the most of it.
Lohner scored 14 factors, hitting 6 of seven photographs from the ground, and made his presence felt inside in Traore’s absence.
“I used to be actually happy with him. He was actually stable defensively,” Pope mentioned. “He was actually affected person offensively and made actually stable choices.
“It was enjoyable to see a few photographs go down for him. I believed he performed terrific tonight.”
Lohner performed an important function in Saturday’s win, Barcello mentioned.
“It’s loopy how this recreation works out. He did an unbelievable job at letting the sport come to him tonight. He didn’t attempt to pressure something. He shot wide-open 3s, he shot the ball the identical approach he all the time does. He made nice performs on the offensive finish, driving into the paint — bounce hooks, layups.
“He had some big-time rebounds, some big-time performs on the defensive finish. His transfer down low the place he missed the left-handed layup was unimaginable. That’s the Caleb that we all know, and that’s the Caleb that’s going to assist us come March. I used to be simply so completely satisfied for him tonight as a result of he seemed so comfy on the market.”
Spencer Johnson got here off the bench to attain 12 factors, and guard Te’Jon Lucas completed with 10 factors and 7 assists.
In addition to Barcello performed, Pepperdine freshman guard Houston Mallette nearly matched him.
Mallette scored 31 factors on 9 of 11 capturing, together with 5 of 6 from 3-point vary.
“He’s a younger man. He’s taking part in nice basketball proper now. We’ve received to determine a solution to cease guys like that after they go on runs and so they’re being as environment friendly as he was tonight,” Barcello mentioned.
“Now we have to determine methods to protect him as a staff. Quite a lot of credit score to him as a result of he’s a younger man and he’s capable of make such a big impact on the sport as a freshman.”
Mentioned Pope of Mallette: “He does a few issues rather well. He makes use of screens rather well. For a freshman, he’s tremendous superior on his stop-and-go. It’s like a Reggie Miller-feel to it. He’ll cease and allow you to run into him after which explode off once more. He was a handful tonight. His IQ as a basketball participant on the offensive finish is de facto excessive. He was excellent tonight.”
As a staff, the Waves, who entered the evening as one of many worst capturing staff within the nation, shot 59% from the ground. Jan Zidek added 20 factors for Pepperdine.
Within the first half, BYU fell behind by as many as eight factors as Pepperdine went up 16-8.
That’s when Barcello took over, drilling 5 consecutive 3-pointers to shut the hole to 18-17.
“I felt good. I strive to enter each recreation pondering, ‘You miss 100% of the photographs you don’t take.’ Regardless of if I miss my first 5 or hit my first 5, I’m going to proceed to shoot the ball if it’s a superb shot,” Barcello mentioned.
“It felt good watching these first 5 go in, I’m not going to lie. That gave me a variety of confidence simply to have the ability to proceed to shoot the ball at that prime clip all through the remainder of the sport.”
Later within the half, the Cougars loved a 12-0 run, that includes a nook 3-pointer by Lohner and a dunk by Atiki Ally Atiki, who completed with eight factors and eight rebounds.
A floater by Barcello with 6:56 left gave BYU its first lead of the sport, 29-27.
Fittingly, Barcello ended the half by nailing a 3-pointer with seven seconds on the clock. The Cougars outscored the Waves 29-11 over the ultimate 8:46 of the primary half.
BYU by no means trailed within the second half, however Pepperdine by no means relented because the Cougars held on late to brush their Southern California highway swing.
BYU visits Saint Mary’s on Saturday.