‘It’s fun to win’: BYU’s Mark Pope commemorates 50th game with double OT victory, avoids back-to-back losses — again
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope works the sideline during the game against the Pacific Tigers at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
PROVO — Mark Pope’s 50th game as BYU’s head coach was a memorable one for many reasons.
In case you were wondering, the Cougars’ thrilling 95-87 double-overtime win over Pacific Saturday at the Marriott Center wasn’t elaborately orchestrated to commemorate the milestone moment.
“I’m always just trying to find a way for it to not be my last game as coach,” Pope joked. “If I can get through it and not have it be my last game, I’m super proud of that.”
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) passes after scooping up a loose ball during the game against the Pacific Tigers at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) goes to the hoop against Pacific Tigers guard Broc Finstuen (24) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) hits a shot between Pacific Tigers guard Broc Finstuen (24) and guard Justin Moore (25), tying the game at 75 and sending it to a second overtime, at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) goes to the hoop, drawing a foul from Pacific Tigers forward Jeremiah Bailey (13) and setting up free-throws with the game tied at 64 and 3.2 seconds on the clock, during the game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. Lohner missed both free-throws, sending the game into overtime. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Pacific Tigers guard Daniss Jenkins (4) drives against Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) and guard Brandon Averette (4) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Pacific Tigers guard Jahbril Price-Noel (22) drives against Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Pacific Tigers guard Justin Moore (25) goes to the hoop against Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) and forward Matt Haarms (3) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars fans cheer during the game against the Pacific Tigers at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Brandon Averette (4) sinks a three over Pacific Tigers during double overtime at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars center Richard Harward (42) puts the ball in ahead of Pacific Tigers guard Broc Finstuen (24) during the first overtime at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars players celebrate their win over Pacific Tigers in double overtime at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Pacific Tigers forward Nigel Shadd (45) puts the ball in over Brigham Young Cougars center Richard Harward (42) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) shoots over Pacific Tigers forward Jeremiah Bailey (13) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) drives against Pacific Tigers guard Daniss Jenkins (4) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope works the sideline during the game against the Pacific Tigers at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Brandon Warr (2) shoots during the game against the Pacific Tigers at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Brandon Averette (4) shoots over Pacific Tigers guard Pierre Crockrell II (3) at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) moves down court as Pacific Tigers guard Daniss Jenkins (4) hits the boards at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars center Richard Harward (42) tangles with Pacific Tigers forward Jordan Bell (1) and guard Jahbril Price-Noel (22) on a rebound at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Not only was it BYU’s first overtime game at home under Pope, but the Cougars were pressed into double OT before grinding out a hardscrabble win against a scrappy bunch of Tigers.
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Seniors Alex Barcello, Brandon Averette and Matt Haarms combined to score 60 points. They each made huge plays down the stretch to lead BYU to victory.
And the Cougars were able to avoid its first losing streak with Pope as the head coach. They have never lost back-to-back games since he became the head coach in April of 2019.
Pope has amassed a 38-12 overall record for the Cougars.
“The game was so incredibly awesome because we won. I’m so happy about that. Fifty games — we’ve been together for a long time,” Pope said. “It seems like a lot longer than a year-and-a-half, doesn’t it? Fifty in the books, guys. It’s fun to win.”
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