BYU’s Gideon George, right, shoots a 3-pointer during the Cougars’ 71-58 win over Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.
BYU’s Gideon George, right, shoots a 3-pointer during the Cougars’ 71-58 win over Portland at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. BYU
Jeff Call
By Jeff Call
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In its West Coast Conference home opener, on New Year’s Eve Saturday night at the Marriott Center, BYU (12-5) defeated Portland 71-58 to improve to 2-0 in league play and extend its winning streak to seven games. 

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  • BYU’s Gideon George poured in a team-high 20 points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds. George also buried four 3-pointers, including a pair in the opening minutes of the second half. 
  • The Cougars had 19 turnovers and Portland scored 20 points off those turnovers. But BYU outshot the Pilots 49% to 38% — the Cougars shot 64% in the second half — and outrebounded them 37-26.
  • Portland’s Kristian Sjolund was outstanding, scoring 32 points, accounting for more than half of his team’s points, and hitting 10 of 19 from the field. 
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