BYU vs. Saint Mary's Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. – In its first-ever West Coast Conference game the BYU men’s basketball team dropped a 98-82 decision to Saint Mary’s on Thursday at McKeon Pavilion.

A 13-0 run in the early second half pushed the Gaels’ lead to 66-45 four minutes into the second frame with BYU (11-4, 0-1) going four minutes without a point. Saint Mary’s (12-2, 1-0) led by as many as 22 points at 71-49 with 14 minutes remaining.

The Cougars chipped away, using a 10-2 run to bring the margin down to 10 points at 80-70, but a controversial charging call against BYU forward Brandon Davies halted the run, with the Gaels scoring six-straight to retake control of the game.

Davies was the bright spot for the Cougars, scoring 28 points, a new career high, shooting 11 of 18 with a career-high five steals and seven rebounds.

Saint Mary’s, shooting .340 from the 3-point line coming into the game, converted 12 of 25 3-point shots while shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 24 of 30 from the free throw line.

Saint Mary’s pulled ahead in a close first half with a 10-2 run right before halftime to go into the half up, 53-43.

Freshman Matt Carlino and senior Noah Hartsock contributed 13 points apiece with Hartsock adding five rebounds and Carlino with six assists.

BYU continues WCC play against San Diego on Saturday at home in the Marriott Center. Game time is set for 4 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on BYUtv and KSL Newsradio.

BYU basketball will open conference play on Thursday, Dec. 29, at Saint Mary’s at 8 p.m. PST.

BYU vs. Saint Mary’s Game Notes

BYU Cougars (11-3, 0-0 WCC)

• Head Coach:Dave Rose (Houston, 1983)
• Career Record: 170-48 (7th season)
• Record at BYU:Same

— vs. —

Saint Mary’s (11-2, 0-0 WCC)

• Head Coach:Randy Bennett (UC San Diego, 1986)
• Career Record: 218-113 (11th season)
• Record at Saint Mary’s: Same

Series Information

• BYU leads 8-2
• Last Meeting:BYU won 74-73, 11/27/10
• Provo:6-1
• Moraga: 1-1
• Neutral: 1-0

Game Information

• Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 • 8 p.m. PST
• Moraga, Calif. • McKeon Pavilion (3,500)
• TV: ESPN2
• TV Talent: Dave Flemming (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst)
• Live Video: ESPN3.com
• Radio: KSL 102.7 FM / 1160 AM • BYU Radio - Sirius XM 143
• Radio Talent: Mark Durrant (play-by-play) and Russ Larson (analyst)
• Live Audio: KSL.com
• Live Stats: BYUcougars.com

Up Next

BYU will play its first WCC home game when it hosts San Diego in the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 4 p.m. MST. Listen live on the radio beginning with the pregame show at 3 p.m. MST on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM or via the Internet at KSL.com. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and BYUtv.org.

Quick Hits

• Saturday’s game against Saint Mary’s will be BYU’s first West Coast Conference game in its history. The Cougars were members of the Mountain West Conference from 1999 to 2011. During that time, they won six conference titles, including four under Dave Rose, and posted a conference record of 126-54 (.700). In Rose’s six seasons coaching in the MWC, BYU won at least 12 conference games and finished no worse than second place.
• Senior Noah Hartsock has been BYU’s most consistent contributor this season, averaging 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. He has scored in double figures in every game this season, has shot .500 or better in all but two games and .600 or better in seven games, including four of the last five.
• Freshman Matt Carlino has scored in double figures in his first four collegiate games. He had an 18-point debut against Baylor, a double-double against Buffalo with 10 points and 11 assists, 22 points and six assists vs. UC Santa Barbara and 19 points vs. Cal State San Marcos.
• Junior Brandon Davies is having a well rounded season, averaging at least one of everything at 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals. He has also posted two double-doubles with 18 points and 13 rebounds against No. 6 Baylor and 14 points and 13 boards vs. Cal State San Marcos.
• Dave Rose is one of the most successful coaches in the history of BYU basketball. He is second in program history in wins (170), first in winning percentage (.780) and has led the Cougars to five-straight NCAA Tournament berths and four conference titles. He also earned three Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards.