LAS VEGAS – BYU was almost perfect in the first half of the West Coast Conference Tournament final against No. 1 Gonzaga.
But it’s not perfect enough.
Jalen Suggs had 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Kispert scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half to help Gonzaga overcome a 12-point handicap at halftime and rally by BYU, 88-78, to win the West Coast Conference Tournament title Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena.
Joel Ayayi added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Zags, who increased to 26-0 with their 30th consecutive victory last season.
Trevin Knell had 20 points, including five out of 3 points, to lead BYU; and Alex Barcello added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists; and Matt Haarms provided 13 points, four rebounds and a blockade for the cougars.
Brandon Averette had 11 points and four assists for the Cougars (20-6), and Gideon George added 11 points and five rebounds.
Look here it comes @ZagMBB!
55-52 BYU at the beginning of the second half.
📺 ESPN
📍 @UCU_LA#WCChoops Tournament pic.twitter.com/Whiyso2YjU– WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 10, 2021
The Cougars played as perfectly in the first half as possible against Gonzaga, who is at the top of the ranking. They threw 68% of the field, including 82.3% in effective field goals, overtaking the Zags by 17-13 with a 15-9 margin on defensive glasses, and assert themselves in the painting 18-16.
It all led to a 53-41 lead at halftime. But the Zags did not fall.
Especially Kispert.
The senior striker hit three points at halftime and tied the game at 57 – all on the free-throw line with 13:49 remaining. So, while BYU was missing its first nine attempts at 3 points in the second half, Kispert led another 12-0 streak that put the Zags in 71-68 with just six minutes left.
Suggs hit three in a row to finish a 23-5 run and move away forever.
. @trevin_knell = 🪣 pic.twitter.com/2jyEEHYUb5
– BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) March 10, 2021
This story will be updated.