BYU showed it’s multiple methods to attack on both ends of the floor as the Cougars squeezed past Atlantic 10 favorite Dayton, 83-79, in the championship of the ESPN Events Invitational at State Farm Fieldhouse in Kissimmee, Fla. The Flyers led the Cougars, 39-30, at halftime, but BYU took a 56-43 advantage on a 26-4 run over the first 7:13 of the second half. Photo courtesy of BYU Athletics.
Cougars guard Richie Saunders led all scorers with 29 points, while point guard Robert White scored 23 points and six assists. AJ Dybantasa scored 18 points in 34 minutes as he went 7-of-12 from the field.
The Cougars were 10-of-13 from the field to begin the second half and take the 56-43 lead as Saunders scored seven points in the run. Wright’s back-to-back layups showed his potential to a playmaker and score quickly.
“Along with AJ, I thought there were a couple of plays right out of the gate,” said Cougars head coach Kevin Young. “We wanted to play fast, but I thought they sped us up. We changed our defensive coverages, and I think that really kind of put them in mud a little bit, and that’s how we were able to get that spread and then just kind of withstand the run at the end.”
Dayton used powerful backcourt play from Javon Bennett, who scored 22 points, with De’Shayne Montgomery (11) and Bryce Heard (16) also making a presence with double figures as well.
The Flyers started the game with a 12-4 lead when 7-1 French center Amael L’Etang scored on a layup and a dunk, garnering 14 points with a pair of triples.
After the Cougars tied the game at 22-22, Bennett hit a pair of threes as Heard joined him with his three-pointer from the top of the key.
Young characterized the Flyers as a “tough team to play.”
“They mix up their defenses,” he said. “They’re aggressive and so a hard team to play against, but I did think our guys adjusted. I told them in the locker room, we’ve got to find some of that juice before halftime. It’s a good lesson for our guys.”
Heard scored on a triple off the left baseline, was fouled, and made the subsequent free throw. It broke the final tie of the game as the Cougars took a 74-70 lead with 2:57 remaining. Heard finished a 7-0 run as Dayton tied BYU at 67 when he hit his fourth three-point shot for the last tie of the game.
“They made plays; we made plays,” Dayton coach Anthony Grant said. “(Saunders) made some huge plays. Down the stretch, it’s one of those games where the clock ran out on you a little bit, but it’s a good effort.
Saunders won the Tournament MVP with his influence on the game in the second half. He hit the threes, found people inside the offense, and used his length to create shots.
“I think Richie’s doing a better job of spacing the floor, finding windows to get some of these kick outs, letting the game come to him,” Young said. “I thought early in the season he was rushing shots. I think he’s in a little bit calmer place.”