BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) celebrates after BYU defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. Denis Poroy, Associated Press
Brandon Judd
By Brandon Judd

BYU held off a late challenge and Brandon Averette’s 3-pointer with 52 seconds to play gave the Cougars enough breathing room as BYU picked up a signature win, beating No. 18 San Diego State 72-62 at Viejas Arena in San Diego on Friday.

The Cougars (7-2) led by as many as 17 points in the second half before seeing their lead whittled away as San Diego State (5-1) tied the score at 61-61 with 1:56 to play, but BYU made six free throws in the final minute after Averette’s big shot — the Cougars scored the game’s final nine points — to earn the win.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

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  • The Cougars’ big three of Alex Barcello, Matt Haarms and Averette shined, and the trio got some key support from the bench. Barcello had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead BYU, while Haarms (10 points, eight rebounds, one blocked shot) and Averette (10 points, two rebounds two 3-pointers) also scored in double-figures. The Cougars outscored the Aztecs 22-11 in bench points — Spencer Johnson and Trevin Knell had eight each — and BYU had a 30-20 edge in points in the paint.
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BYU guard Alex Barcello (13), center, fights for the ball with San Diego State guards Terrell Gomez (3), left, and Trey Pulliam (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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San Diego State guard Jordan Schakel (20) shoots over BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) blocks a shot by San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) tries to shoot over BYU guard Spencer Johnson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU forward Caleb Lohner (33) shoots over San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah (31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU guard Brandon Averette (4) blocks a shot by San Diego State guard Terrell Gomez (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU guard Alex Barcello, left, shoots over San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah (31) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) shoots over San Diego State forward Joshua Tomaic (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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San Diego State forward Matt Mitchell (11) shoots over BYU forward Kolby Lee (40) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU forward Caleb Lohner (33) fights for the ball with San Diego State forward Matt Mitchell (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU players celebrate a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) celebrates after BYU defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU head coach Mark Pope, left, celebrates with his players after they defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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San Diego State players look on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against BYU, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | AP
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San Diego State guard Jordan Schakel (20) slips as he fights for the the ball with BYU guard Connor Harding (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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San Diego State forward Matt Mitchell (11) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against BYU, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
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BYU guard Trevin Knell, left, and BYU center Richard Harward, right, pressue San Diego State forward Matt Mitchell, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) | Denis Poroy, Associated Press
  • Matt Mitchell sparked the Aztecs’ rally, as SDSU use a 14-0 run to make it 61-all with just under two minutes in regulation after BYU took a 61-47 lead with 5:20 to play. Mitchell had three 3-pointers and 12 of those 14 points in the run, and he finished with a game-high 35 points on 12 of 17 shooting, with five 3-pointers. 
  • BYU held San Diego State to 25% shooting in the first half as the Cougars went into the break with a 35-20 lead. The Cougars hit 51.9% of their shots in the first half, include five 3-pointers, while the Aztecs made just two 3s in the opening half. BYU shot 46.3% for the game, compared to 36.8% for San Diego State.
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