Emery's 22 helps BYU hold off Colorado for resume-building win


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PROVO — A few old faces and a few new faces rose up to give BYU its biggest win since the 2016-17 season-opener against Princeton.

Nick Emery scored a game-high 22 points, and a less-than-healthy Eric Mika added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists to lead the BYU men’s basketball team to a 79-71 win over Colorado on Saturday night at the Marriott Center.

TJ Haws had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Cougars (7-3), and freshman Yoeli Childs supplied 11 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double at BYU.

“No question that for us as a group we found something tonight that is really special,” BYU coach Dave Rose told KSL NewsRadio. “It was a great night; the fans were awesome, and there was a ton of energy in the building.

“Our guys really responded to positive plays, to challenging plays and to disappointing plays. … Hopefully it’s a really turning point for this group.”

Even while Mika struggled from the field with a stomach ailment, the sophomore made 11-of-13 free throws.

Derrick White led Colorado with 21 points, but BYU held him scoreless from the field in the second half until the final minute.

BYU led by as much as eight points in the first half, and took a 40-38 halftime lead behind 13 points from Emery. The hosts then used a 7-0 run to take their first 10-point lead on Childs’ jumper five minutes into the second half, 52-42.

That’s when the Buffs started to claw back.

Xavier Johnson scored eight-straight points to pull Colorado within one, and the Buffaloes took a 54-53 edge on a pair of free throws by George King with 11:42 left in the game.

BYU's bench celebrates a 3-pointer by a teammate during NCAA basketball against Colorado in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)
BYU's bench celebrates a 3-pointer by a teammate during NCAA basketball against Colorado in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)

The Buffs led by as much as three, but Emery scored a backdoor layup on a jaw-dropping pass from Haws with 10:50 left to cap a run of six-straight scoreless possessions.

Colorado started to go cold from the floor, shooting just 24 percent from 3-point range, thanks in large part to a defensive effort from Steven Beo — who also tied the game at 58 on a 3-pointer with 9:50 left in the game.

“My guy doubled down on (Mika), and he kicked it back out. Coaches say if you are open, shoot, so I knocked it down,” Beo told KSL NewsRadio. “The crowd. The atmosphere. Everything in hitting a big shot like that; it’s something I will never forget.”

Emery’s scoop capped an 8-0 run that put BYU on top, 69-62, with less than six minutes remaining to help the Cougars pull away for good.

Here are three thoughts from an NCAA Tournament resume-building win as the Cougars prepare for a post-finals week matchup next Saturday, Dec. 17, against Illinois in Chicago.

Steven Beo gave the Cougars an unlikely boost

Beo had seen his minutes dwindle in the early part of the season, which isn’t surprising for the freshman point guard playing behind graduate senior L.J. Rose.

But with Rose struggling late, Beo was on the floor — and though he didn’t put up gaudy numbers like his roommate Childs, he made a difference.

Beo had a career-high in … well, everything, on Saturday night. He scored his first 3-pointer as a Cougar, added two rebounds, an assist and a steal in a career-best 21 minutes.

“Stephen Beo has taken advantage of earning a little bit more time,” coach Rose said. “Last year, we discovered Zac Seljaas against Colorado. Maybe we can hit lightning in a bottle again (in Beo).”

Beo entered the game having played one minute or less in six of the Cougars’ previous seven games. His previous high came Nov. 17 against Coppin State, when he had one rebound and one assist in a 96-59 win.

“Coach gave me a great opportunity, and I wasn’t going to let it go to waste,” Beo said. “I just played my butt off, and it worked out.”

Emery showed leadership

Emery was the only one with experience from last year’s team in Saturday’s starting lineup, meaning the team was going to go to him when they needed scoring, playmaking, or just leadership on the court.

He proved himself well against the Buffs.

Emery had 13 points in the first half, and each Colorado run down the stretch was answered with a subsequent run from BYU — often paced by Emery’s scoring or one or two assists, four rebounds or three steals.

“It’s so difficult to try to find the personality of each team, especially in a group that is so new together and has had so many odd things happen as far as personnel is concerned,” Rose said. “We’re in a tough spot. But no question, these guys are determined. …. Tonight, they were determined to finish the win.”

BYU won with defense … no, really

As impressive as 55 total points from the “Lone Peak Three” of Emery, Haws and Mika, the Cougars beat the Buffs with defense — especially on the guard line.

Is this the same team that allowed 114 points in a home loss to Utah Valley?

BYU held Colorado to 39 percent shooting, including tough-sledding 7-of-29 from 3-point range. The Cougars out-rebounded the visitors 46-31, including a 33-24 margin on the defensive glass.

“We got punked,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “There’s no other way to put it; we got punked on the boards by a BYU team that is a good rebounding team. They kicked our tail on the boards.”

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