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LOS ANGELES — Brigham Young defeated Loyola Marymount 73-70, overcoming a season-worst 19 turnovers to win the final game of the regular season.
BYU was led in scoring by sophomore Tyler Haws, who secured his regular season conference scoring title with 24 points, with 14 of those coming from the free-throw line. BYU point guard Matt Carlino had a season-high nine turnovers in 28 minutes, while dishing out seven assists and scoring 11 points.
“I think we’re in a good spot now, and I think we’re ready to make a run in the tournament,” Haws said after the game.
Haws had his fourth game this season with zero missed free throws, making all 14 of his attempts. Those free throws were especially important in the final minutes of the game, when the Cougars saw their 15-point lead dwindle down to six points at the end before a three at the buzzer by Anthony Ireland.
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“Tyler (Haws) is a special guy,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said after the game. “Tonight, he didn’t have much help, but he carried the load for us.”
Haws has faced physical defense all season against WCC opponents, being sent to the hardwood and receiving his fair share of grabs, shoves, elbows, bumps and slaps. The physical toll of the conference games had begun to take its toll on Haws, who had been in a slump of sorts. In his previous three games, Haws had shot 40.4 percent from the field and 20 percent on three-point attempts, making one shot on five attempts from the perimeter. Despite the recent difficulties, Haws has still been money from the free-throw line, making 82.6 percent of his attempts.
This has been a special season for the recently returned missionary turned captain of the basketball team. Haws won the scoring title despite being left off of the WCC coaches' preseason all-conference team, in a sense sneaking up on the league despite a good freshman season.
No one can ignore Haws anymore, however. Haws finished with 329 points scored in conference, for an average of 20.56 points per game. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor this season in conference, 37 percent on 3-point shots, and 82 percent from the free-throw line.
In a season where Rose was left without two scholarship players due to injury, and was playing walk-ons in the starting lineup, Haws' contributions were invaluable to a Cougars team that won 21 games and finished with the third seed in the WCC for the second consecutive season.
The Cougars were not the only WCC team in action Saturday night.
Gonzaga clinched the number one seed in the upcoming tournament, and likely the number one seed in the country, with a win over Portland. Saint Mary’s survived against Santa Clara, winning 80-67 in a game that was close until the final minutes. San Diego held off Pepperdine, 76-69, at home to clinch the six seed and a rematch against the Waves in the tournament.
With the win, the Cougars secured the third seed in the West Coast Conference tournament that will start on Wednesday, March 6. The Cougars will play the winner of Thursday’s game between Pepperdine and San Diego.
Dan Lewis covers BYU sports for KSL.com. He is currently attending Brigham Young University, studying communications with an emphasis in multimedia journalism.
