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BYU senior guard Craig Cusick has been called upon by head coach Dave Rose to fill many roles on this year's basketball team.
Tuesday night, Cusick lifted the Cougars to a 70-68 victory over in-state rival Utah St., just hours after learning that his father Randy has cancer.
"It's a really, really special night for us," said Cusick on KSL Radio after the win, referring to family members who had gathered in Provo and were together at Tuesday night's game.
"My dad watched this game from the hospital bed," said Cusick in his postgame radio interview. "He's been having some serious health issues that just recently popped up in the last day or so, and things got a little worse for him today, and that's just why it makes it a really special day for us, to have my family here, all in town, and to be able to end the game like that...I know he was excited to watch the game in the hospital bed, and I can't tell you how grateful I am to be here."
"The great thing is that there's nowhere else he would rather have me be than on the basketball court playing. He's great man and I love him so much, and I'm just happy to be on this team and have this dream come true for me--especially on this night."
"There's nowhere else he would rather have me be than on the basketball court, playing...(it was a) dream come true for me--especially on this night."
In an earlier meeting with reporters, Cusick said he was "really grateful and emotional...as a player, you couldn't dream it any better. It's great that I made the shot, but I give all the credit in the world to my teammates during the game. I made one shot the whole game... so I give credit to my teammates."
Cusick said he couldn't remember a better moment in his basketball career. "This is the best one of my life, by far. This meant a lot for me and I just couldn't be happier that I was able to be a part of this with my team."
On Twitter, Brock Zylstra tweeted, "Great win tonight! Proud of my guy @craig_cusick! Not many people I know better than him! Love you bro!"
Tyler Haws led all scorers with 27 points, but it was the final two that mattered most, "Craig's got ice in his veins," said Haws, "things don't get to him very easily... He's calm in those kinds of situations and is ready to make a big shot."
Rose has increased Cusick's role recently, starting him in the past two contests and playing at least 25 minutes in the last three, "Huge basket for him. I'm really excited for him and happy for him."
Cusick walked on to the team and has graduated to a senior starter, "I'm extremely grateful to be in this opportunity. So, to be in that spot and to be able to finish off a game like that is a dream come true and it's special."
