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BYU enjoys good support at Pacific, but has rough first half

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Yoeli Childs (23) after a dunk as the BYU men's basketball team plays a scrimmage game known as the Cougar Tipoff, in Provo, Wednesday October 25, 2017.

  | Jan. 7, 2018, 4:06 a.m.

Stockton, Calif. • BYU entered Saturday’s game at Pacific having won its last seven true road games, the most since the final two road games of 2013-14 and first five of 2014-15.

But Pacific didn’t exactly enjoy a home crowd advantage.

As usual, hundreds of BYU fans flocked to Spanos Center and their presence was even more noticeable because Pacific students are still on the holiday break.

Classes haven’t started yet at BYU, either, making this one of the most stress-free trips of the season.

“This one will be different because there is no school that we have to really be juggling as well,” said BYU forward Payton Dastrup on Wednesday. “So to be able to get in, practice, get back to the hotel and chill, be with our guys, get our minds right and get those wins [is important]. I am excited to get going because it is a lot of fun to win on the road.”

As for BYU’s road success, Elijah Bryant said it is because of defense.

“Defense travels, is what they say,” he said.

Rocky first half

The Cougars made six of their first seven shots to grab a quick 14-7 lead, then missed seven of their next nine and lost the advantage. Pacific shot 55 percent in the first half and took a 36-29 lead at the break. It was the first time in 11 games that BYU has not had the halftime lead.

Moving on up

BYU is still just outside the NCAA Tournament bubble, but the Cougars are starting to move up in several national ratings systems. They entered Saturday ranked No. 58 by Ken Pomeroy and Jeff Sagarin. Their NCAA RPI is 62 and their ESPN BPI is 54.

Free-throw trivia

The Cougars play the best free-throw defense in the country. Entering Saturday’s game, opponents were making only 63.7 percent of their free throws, the lowest number in Division I college basketball. Pacific’s opponents were making 78.4 percent of their free throws, the third-best mark in the country.

The Cougars entered the game shooting 74 percent from the line.

Briefly

BYU coach Dave Rose started the same five players for the 13th straight game: TJ Haws, Yoeli Childs, Elijah Bryant, Jahshire Hardnett and Luke Worthington. It was the 51st straight start for Haws, which leads the team. The sophomore has started every game in his BYU career. … Haws scored 16 points in last year’s game at Spanos Center, and Childs had 14 rebounds. … Bryant hit a 3-pointer in the first five minutes and has made at least one triple in every game this season. He also had his first dunk of the season in the first half.