The BYU Cougars and the Loyola Marymount Lions meet in college basketball action from the Gersten Pavilion on Thursday night.
The BYU Cougars will look to snap a four-game losing skid after a 90-57 loss to Gonzaga last time out. Alex Barcello leads the Cougars with 17 PPG while Fousseyni Traore has a team-high 8.2 RPG to lead the Cougars on the glass and Te’Jon Lucas has 10.4 PPG with a team-high 4.4 APG to lead the Cougars in the assist department and to make up the other half of the pair of double-digit scorers for BYU so far this season. As a team, BYU is averaging 72.7 PPG on 44% shooting from the field, 35.2% from three and 72.6% from the foul line while allowing 67.3 PPG on 40.9% shooting from the field and 29.3% from three this season.
The Loyola Marymount Lions will try to snap a five-game losing skid after a 71-60 road loss to Saint Mary’s last time out. Eli Scott has a team-high 16.3 PPG and 6.9 RPG to lead the Lions in scoring and rebounding while also posting a team-high 3.3 APG as well this season. Joe Quintana has 12.2 PPG while Dameane Douglas has 10.8 PPG with 4.5 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for LMU so far this season. Keli Leaupepe has 8.3 PPG and 4.7 RPG and Jalen Anderson has 9 PPG in 10 games as well this season for the Lions. As a team, Loyola Marymount is averaging 67.1 PPG on 44.3% shooting from the field, 32.1% from three and 73% from the foul line while allowing 72.3 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field and 34.7% from three this season.
BYU is 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home. Loyola Marymount is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games while the over is 3-0-1 in their last 4 games as a home underdog.
I get the case to be made either way here as I’m truthfully not looking to back either side in their current form. However, I think we’re more likely to see BYU’s offense wake up here as the Cougars have a tendency to bury lesser teams when the shots are really falling. LMU has looked lifeless often this season and I think if there’s a get right spot for BYU, it’s this. Give me the Cougars in a lean at best.