Cougars beat Pirates, but it sure isn't easy

PROVO — This BYU basketball team sure seems to enjoy drama. For the second straight night, the Cougars battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit to win a game in its Holiday Classic.

On Saturday, Seton Hall — the first Big East Conference opponent to pay a visit to the Marriott Center since St. John's in 1990 — pushed BYU to the limit in the Cougars' final tune-up before opening Mountain West Conference play next weekend.

BYU outlasted the visiting Pirates, who wore down late in the contest, to record a hard-fought 77-68 victory.

While the Cougars assumed control of the game in the final three minutes, they made things interesting by missing six of 12 free throw attempts.

"We didn't want the crowd to leave," joked guard Austin Ainge, who scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but missed three free throws in the waning moments.

When the game was over, BYU forward Keena Young walked away with the Holiday Classic MVP trophy after scoring 26 points (on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor) and collecting nine rebounds.

The BYU Holiday Classic all-tournament team featured BYU's Lee Cummard, Oral Roberts' Ken Tutt and Caleb Green; Seton Hall's Brian Laing, and Liberty's Larry Blair.

The Cougars received the Holiday Classic trophy for their efforts, having defeated Liberty, Oral Roberts and Seton Hall on back-to-back-to-back nights.

"I have been involved in a lot of three-night tournaments back when I was coaching (at Dixie State College)," said BYU coach Dave Rose. "There were a lot of guys just gassed and competing hard tonight. They left everything out there on the court."

Rose was pleased with the way his team performed this weekend.

"This team grew a lot in these three days," Rose said. "I'm proud of the guys and how they played."

Just like Friday night's triumph over Oral Roberts, Young dominated in the second half to spark a Cougar comeback. Against Seton Hall, BYU fell behind and trailed by 10 with 16:30 remaining in the game.

Young scored 18 of his points in the final 20 minutes and he did it in front of his parents, Cleveland and Lavella, who traveled from Beaumont, Texas, to watch him play.

"It was nice to send them home with a Christmas present," Young said.

Young sent the Pirates packing with his physical play and nifty moves around the basket.