Brigham Young Cougars guard Te’Jon Lucas, wearing white, works to bring the ball upcourt with Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray defending.
Brigham Young Cougars guard Te’Jon Lucas (3) works to bring the ball upcourt with Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray (11) defending during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jeff Call
By Jeff Call
View Comments

No. 2 seeded BYU won its first-round National Invitation Tournament game with a 93-72 victory over Long Beach State at the Marriott Center. The Cougars (23-10) advance to a second round game Saturday at 7 p.m. at home against Northern Iowa. 

Photo Gallery: 1 of 26
1 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) tries to pass around Long Beach State 49ers guard Colin Slater (14) and Long Beach State 49ers forward Jordan Roberts (2) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 2 of 26
2 of 26
Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray (11) drives past Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) on his way to the hoop during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 3 of 26
3 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) blocks a shot by Long Beach State 49ers guard Drew Cobb (3) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 4 of 26
4 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) works to bring the ball upcourt with Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray (11) defending during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 5 of 26
5 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) works on Long Beach State 49ers forward Jordan Roberts (2) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 6 of 26
6 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) drops in a 3-point shot during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 7 of 26
7 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) goes up for a dunk during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 8 of 26
8 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) blocks a shot by Long Beach State 49ers guard Drew Cobb (3) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 9 of 26
9 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) and Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) wrestle with Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray (11) for the ball during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 10 of 26
10 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) grabs a rebound away from Long Beach State 49ers guard Colin Slater (14) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 11 of 26
11 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) battles Long Beach State 49ers guard Jadon Jones (12) and Long Beach State 49ers center Jeffrey Yan (40) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 12 of 26
12 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) gets his arm tangled up with Long Beach State 49ers guard Eddie Scott (5) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 13 of 26
13 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Hunter Erickson (0) puts up a shot during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 14 of 26
14 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) takes a pass up for a shot during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 15 of 26
15 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Hunter Erickson (0) wrestles for the ball with Long Beach State 49ers guard Joel Murray (11) and Long Beach State 49ers forward Jordan Roberts (2) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 16 of 26
16 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope takes a few seconds to poke fun at Brigham Young Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 17 of 26
17 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) passes around Long Beach State 49ers forward Jordan Roberts (2) to teammate Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 18 of 26
18 of 26
Fans celebrate after a Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) 3-point shot during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 19 of 26
19 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars players celebrate an Alex Barcello (13) 3-point shot during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 20 of 26
20 of 26
Long Beach State 49ers guard Colin Slater (14) misses stealing the ball as Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) takes the pass during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 21 of 26
21 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope talks with his players after the game as BYU defeated Long Beach State in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 22 of 26
22 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo dances for fans during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 23 of 26
23 of 26
Long Beach State 49ers guard Jadon Jones (12) and Long Beach State 49ers guard RJ Rhoden (0) battle Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) for the ball during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 24 of 26
24 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) works to defend Long Beach State 49ers guard Drew Cobb (3)during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. BYU won 93-72. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 25 of 26
25 of 26
Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) jumps onto the announcer’s table after trying to steal the ball during an NIT game against Long Beach State at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 26 of 26
26 of 26
Long Beach State 49ers guard Colin Slater (14) gets past Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) during an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
  • BYU trailed 46-41 at halftime but roared to life in the second half. Midway through the half, the Cougars went on a 21-0 run to go up 78-57. 
  • BYU was led by five players who scored in double figures: Caleb Lohner (20), Gideon George (16), Alex Barcello (14), Fousseyni Traore (11) and Trevin Knell (10). Atiki Ally Atiki added 8 points and nine rebounds. 
  • The Cougars outscored LBSU in the paint 48-20. In the second half, BYU outscored LBSU 52-26.
Related
How BYU changed the game in the 2nd half and earned a win over Long Beach State in the 1st round of the NIT
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.