PROVO, Utah-Thursday and Saturday, BYU men’s basketball (11-3, 2-1 in West Coast Conference action) host Portland (6-7, 0-4 in WCC play) as the Cougars return to the Marriott Center for the first time in 31 days.
The Cougars score 76.5 points per game, ranking BYU 87th nationally in scoring offense.
Defensively, BYU surrenders 67.3 points per contest. This ranks the Cougars 99th nationally in scoring defense.
The Cougars’ leader in scoring (16.3 points per game) and assists (61) is senior guard Alex Barcello.
Also scoring in double figures on-average for the Cougars are Dutch national senior forward/center Matt Haarms (11 points per game, a team-best 22 blocked shots) and senior guard Brandon Averette (10 points per game, a team-best 14 steals).
BYU’s leader on the glass is freshman forward Caleb Lohner (6.7 rebounds per game).
The Cougars are coached by Mark Pope who is 35-11 (.761) in his second season at BYU. As a Division I head coach, he is 112-67 (.626). This includes his time at Utah Valley (2015-2019).
Portland scores 72.4 points per game. This ties the Pilots for 179th nationally in scoring offense with Cal State Bakersfield.
Defensively, the Pilots surrender 80.4 points per game. This ranks Portland 322nd nationally in scoring defense.
Senior guard Ahmed Ali is the Pilots’ leader in scoring (17.8 points per game) and assists (37).
Junior forward Eddie Davis (12.1 points per game, a team-best 5.2 rebounds per contest) is the only other Pilot to score in double figures on-average.
Junior guard Isiah Dasher leads the Pilots with 21 steals and Portland’s leader in blocked shots is freshman forward Hayden Curtiss, who has 16 on the season.
The Pilots are coached by Terry Porter, who is 43-99 (.303) in his fifth season at Portland.
The Cougars have dominated the series, leading Portland 22-2 all-time.
