FILE: BYU guard TJ Haws (30) brings the ball up the court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. | Young Kwak, AP

By Brandon Judd

SALT LAKE CITY — BYU rolled to its fifth straight win, beating Loyola Marymount 77-54 at Albert Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Here are three takeaways that defined the game:

  • The Cougars (20-7, 9-3 West Coast Conference), the nation’s No. 1 3-point shooting team, made a school record 18 3-pointers (18 of 40 from long range, including 12 of 23 in the second half) while Loyola Marymount hit just 2 of 10 3-pointers. Alex Barcello hit 6 of 8 threes for all 18 of his points for BYU.
  • BYU was efficient on offense, with 18 assists on 25 made field goals as the Cougars made 41.7% of their shots from the field, including 45.5% in the second half when BYU pushed its lead from eight points at the break to as many as 26 points. TJ Haws added 17 points and three assists for the Cougars.
  • BYU turned the ball over just eight times, while the Lions (8-17, 2-9 WCC) had 19 turnovers. That led to the Cougars having a 25-8 edge in points off turnovers.

Up next

Saturday at San Diego, 8 p.m. MST