BYU rides stifling 3-point shooting defense to 75-42 throttling of Nevada

PROVO — Everybody knew about BYU’s ability to shoot the 3.

But who knew about the Cougars’ ability to defend the 3? 

Facing another team, like itself, that ranks in the top 10 in three-point shooting, BYU held Nevada to 3 of 23 from deep and 24.6% overall as the Cougars demolished the Wolf Pack 75-42 Tuesday night at the Marriott Center.  

Going into the night, Nevada was averaging 10.7 3s and 82 points per game.

Coach Mark Pope credited assistant coach Nick Robinson for devising a game plan designed to prevent the Wolf Pack from making three-pointers. 

“We just wanted to get stops and that’s how we found some rhythm and juice on the offensive end. We know we’re going to make shots and make plays. But if we can lock in defensively, we’re going to be tough to beat.” — BYU’s Jake Toolson

Robinson “put together this scout and the guys really locked in and took a team that’s been on fire — this Nevada team has been one of the scariest offensive teams that we’ve prepared for,” Pope said. “Their backcourt is so skilled and effective at making shots, shots that are hard to take away.” 

How much credit should the Cougars take for the Wolf Pack’s struggles from three-point range?

“I’m going to take all of it. We had a great game plan. We were locked in,” said guard Jake Toolson, who scored a team-high 15 points and knocked down five three-pointers — two more than the entire Nevada team. “We just wanted to get stops and that’s how we found some rhythm and juice on the offensive end. We know we’re going to make shots and make plays. But if we can lock in defensively, we’re going to be tough to beat.”

Pope was thrilled with his team’s 33-point victory, especially when the Cougars shot only 41 percent from the field. 

“We talked about it at halftime, how exciting it was to have a chance to win a game a different way,” he said. “That’s what good teams do, right? As we get into league play, trust me, we’re going to have to win games a bunch of different ways.”

With the win, BYU (8-4) snapped Nevada’s five-game winning streak. The Wolf Pack fell to 7-4 on the season. 

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Forward Yoeli Childs, playing in his first home game of the season, went zero of seven from the floor and was held scoreless in the first half. Nevada double-teamed Childs and was physical with him, particularly in the paint. 

But in the second half, Childs made five of six shots and finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. It marked Childs’ 39th career double-double, tying John Fairchild for No. 2 all-time in BYU basketball history.

What did Toolson see from Childs Tuesday night?

“I saw greatness. That’s a sign of a great player, is being able to respond. He fought through the frustration,” he said. “In the first half he had zero points but he was getting guys so many open looks. He was helping us get great looks. Then in the second half, it was only a matter of time that he was going to make plays and get baskets. The way he responded to that frustrating first half, getting fouled, that’s a sign of a great player if you can fight through that frustration.”

Besides Toolson’s 15 points and Childs’ 14, three other Cougars scored in double figures — Alex Barcello (13), TJ Haws (11) and Connor Harding (10). 

BYU knocked down 12 of 37 3-pointers. The Cougars have hit 10-plus 3s in five consecutive games.

Nevada guard Jazz Johnson entered the game averaging nearly four three-pointers a game and ranked in the top 10 in the country in that category. He finished one of eight from three-point range, with his first one came with seven minutes remaining. Johnson was averaging 17 points per game and he ended up with eight.

“Everybody in the Mountain West is scared of Jazz,” Pope said. “He’s such an explosive scorer and he’s a veteran guy and he didn’t really get the shots that he’s accustomed to getting tonight.”

BYU came out firing from the three-point stripe from the outset. The Cougars knocked down eight of 21 three-pointers in the first half, compared to 1 of 7 for Nevada. 

Both teams shot just 32% from the field.

The Cougars led by as many as 15 in the first half, seizing a 29-15 advantage on a layup by Connor Harding. 

BYU led the Wolf Pack at intermission, 34-22. 

The Cougars take on Utah State Saturday at Vivint Smart Home Arena.