(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) celebrates a dunk in the final minutes in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) dunks the ball in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) battles Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) and Portland Pilots guard Chris Austin (5) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) shoots a free throw in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) dunks the ball in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) tangles with Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) sails in a shot attempt over Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) battles for a rebound against Portland Pilots guard Tyler Robertson (2) and Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) tries to find and open teammate past Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) and Portland Pilots guard Chris Austin (5) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU coach Mark Pope yells out to his team in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) celebrates a dunk in the final minutes in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The BYU student section does their best to distract Portland during their game at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) wins the rebound in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) celebrates his three point shot in the final seconds of the first half of play in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) pulls down a rebound over Portland Pilots guard Mike Meadows (25) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) reaches back trying to get the ball above Portland Pilots guard Chris Austin (5) Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) looks for a teammate in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Portland Pilots forward Vasilije Vucinic (23) is pressured by Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Portland Pilots guard Nikola Milosevic (4) is pressured by Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) puts the block on Portland Pilots guard Chris Austin (5) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) sails over Portland Pilots guard Chika Nduka (15) in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The BYU student section dresses up as ice cream cones in celebration of Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) birthday in WCC basketball action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The student section celebrates the birthday of Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) following their game against the Portland Pilots, at the Marriott Center, on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
Provo • Seneca Knight launched a corner 3-pointer with just seconds remaining in the first half. The first-year BYU guard had just made one on the previous possession, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game to that point.
When Knight swished another long ball as the clock expired, the crowd erupted with glee, and Knight bounced up and down while slapping five with fans courtside. While the Cougars led by only five at that point, Knight’s shot provided the spark they needed to pick up yet another win in the West Coast Conference.
The Cougars got their third straight WCC win with a 78-65 victory over the Portland Pilots on Saturday at the Marriott Center. The Cougars used a late 10-0 push to build a 17-point lead and secure the win after the game had been close for the most part.
“Our goal tonight was to try and touch the paint,” coach Mark Pope said. “We had to find a way to touch the paint. They pack it in, they switch a lot of ball screens, they’re bringing a lot of people, so it’s hard to get downhill.”
The Cougars were definitely able to find the paint. They outscored Portland 32-16 in that category and also won the battle of the bench points, 27-15. Knight led the bench squad in scoring, but Spencer Johnson’s defense allowed him to have the biggest plus-minus among the reserves.
BYU was plus-21 with Johnson on the court.
“I wonder why I ever take him out of the game,” Pope said of Johnson. “He’s so impactful on the court. ... His work defensively is such a gift to our team because he just goes out there and disrupts everything.”
The win improves BYU’s record to 17-4 (5-1 WCC) and could get the Cougars closer to cracking the Associated Press Top 25 after being just two spots out to start the week.
Four players scored in double figures for the Cougars. Te’Jon Lucas led the way with 16 points and seven assists. Knight tied his career high of 14 points for the second straight game, while Fousseyni Traore and Caleb Lohner added 13 points apiece. Traore, who celebrated a birthday Saturday, added 10 rebounds and four assists, and did not miss from the field.
Alex Barcello finished the game with nine points, five rebounds and four assists on 3-of-10 shooting from the field.
