BYU Basketball Cruises To Victory Against NAIA Central Methodist

PROVO, Utah — BYU basketball defeated Central Methodist on Saturday night, 97-61. The Cougars had six players score in double figures in the game. Caleb Lohner led BYU with 19 points and added seven rebounds. Alex Barcello continues his hot shooting start, scoring 16 points and shooting 4-7 from deep. The Cougar bench played well, adding 36 points in the game.

Lights Out Shooting Put BYU Ahead In First Half

Caleb Lohner got things going early for BYU with two quick buckets. One came from an offensive rebound, the other on an assist from Gideon George. George added seven points in the half and led the team in first half rebounds with six.

BYU shooting well from three in the first half. Cougars were 7-13 in the half, they entered the game shooting just 30% on the season from deep. #BYUhoops

— Dallen Graff (@lilthoint) November 21, 2021

BYU shot the ball well from deep in the first half. As a team, the Cougars were 7-13 good for 54%. The team hadn’t shot the ball well from three to start the season, shooting a combined 30% in their first three games. Despite the underwhelming shooting from deep, BYU has still started 3-0. With strong three-point shooting to go along with a stifling defense, this could be a special team in Provo.

Alex Barcello led the Cougars in scoring in the first half with 16 points. He had four first half three-pointers, including one on a great pass from fellow senior Te’Jon Lucas. The duo continues to develop on-court chemistry leading BYU’s offensive attack. Lucas led the Cougars in first half assists with four.

Half. pic.twitter.com/vpPNNgV6Gh

— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 21, 2021

BYU led Central Methodist at the half 46-29.

Defense Seals The Victory In Second Half

BYU’s stifling defense helped the Cougars seal the victory in the second half. Central Methodist shot just 11-23 in the half and 1-6 from three as BYU consistently contested shots and bothered the Eagles shooters.

Gavin Baxter had a big night, coming out of the half with six early points. Baxter totaled 13 points for the game and five rebounds. The Cougars could not keep up their pace from deep in the second half, but shot a respectable 4-11 from three in the half.

Mark Pope played Caleb Lohner at the five for about eight minutes in the second half. Lohner had 10 points during that stretch. Yet another lineup at Pope’s disposal. #BYUhoops

— Dallen Graff (@lilthoint) November 21, 2021

With the lead up to 30 points, head coach Mark Pope began to play with new lineups for the Cougars. Caleb Lohner moved over to the five position for a stretch of about eight minutes. In those minutes  Lohner was dominate, scoring 10 points and adding two assists during the run. Perhaps Coach Pope unlocked another tactical advantage with Lohner’s ability to play a “small ball center”.

#BYU improves to 4-0 for the first time in the Mark Pope era.@BYUMBB – 97@CMUHOOPS – 61#BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/78GqmnSPap

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 21, 2021

It was never in doubt as BYU closed down the stretch to beat Central Methodist. The Cougars won comfortably by a score of 97-61.

BYU’s Next Opponent

BYU stays home to face Texas Southern next Wednesday. The game will take place at the Marriott Center with a 7 p.m. (MDT) tip-off. You can listen to the game on KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.

Dallen Graff is a KSL Sports Contributor. He is the Producer of Cougar Sports Saturday (SUBSCRIBE) on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Twitter.