LOS ANGELES — With 7:30 remaining in the game against Loyola Marymount, BYU’s Connor Harding launched a 3-pointer from the corner and the ball bounced high off the rim, hit the top of the backboard and dropped into the net.
It was that kind of half for the Cougars, who hit a school-record 18 3-pointers and claimed a 77-54 victory over the Lions at Gersten Pavilion Thursday night. BYU leads the nation in 3-point shooting, and it showed why against LMU.
The Cougars were clinging to a 32-29 lead early in the second half before they went on a commanding 26-6 run — featuring six 3-pointers.
In the second half, BYU drilled 12 of 21 3s.
Alex Barcello finished with 18 points, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. TJ Haws had 17 points, including 4 of 8 from 3.
Evan Troy knocked down BYU’s record-breaking 18th 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining.
The Cougars extended their winning streak to five games and clinched a 20-win season after winning a total of 19 last season.
BYU improved to 20-7 overall and 9-3 in the West Coast Conference. LMU fell to 8-17 and 2-9.
BYU missed its first five 3-point attempts of the game and trailed 8-4 in the opening minutes. But the Cougars’ first 3, by Jake Toolson, gave BYU its first lead of the game, 9-8.
Moments later, a Barcello 3 put the Cougars up 12-8. After a 6-0 run by LMU, back-to-back 3-pointers by Haws and Toolson gave BYU an 18-14 advantage with 7:50 left in the first half.
Another 6-0 Lion spurt cut the deficit to 23-22, but the Cougars outscored LMU 9-2 over the final 3:39 of the half and BYU took a 32-24 lead into the locker room at intermission.
At that point, BYU was shooting 37% from the field (10 of 27) while LMU was shooting 52%, including 11 of 16 from 2-point range and 0 of 5 from 3-point territory.
Haws had a game-high 11 points at halftime.
BYU visits San Diego Saturday.