BYU basketball: Damarcus Harrison steps up big for BYU

DAYTON, Ohio — Seldom-used BYU freshman Damarcus Harrison played an integral role in the Cougars' remarkable NCAA Tournament comeback Tuesday.

Harrison played 21 minutes, hit 4-of-6 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, and finished with 12 points. He started the second half and gave the Cougars a spark in their 78-72 victory over Iona.

Coach Dave Rose said BYU's 10-day layoff before the NCAA Tournament helped Harrison.

"We talked about Damarcus and how well he had practiced. And I think a lot of times you get so caught up in preparing for the next game that practices are difficult, especially for young players that haven't played the game before," Rose said. "Damarcus had a couple of really good practices early, and then the last three practices he was one of the best guys on the floor. I told you all along he's a really good player and I think his confidence really grew tonight. But he stepped up in a really big-time atmosphere and had a great game. A lot of that had to do with his preparation."

email: jeffc@desnews.com