The Brigham Young-Hawaii basketball team kind of had to remake itself when all-conference center Scott Salisbury was lost for the season last week. Seasiders regroup
to win at home againBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comAnd for one day, the Seasiders remade themselves in the image of co-champs Montana State-Billings.
"Scott is an awful big cog," BYUH coach Ken Wagner said. "So we sort of had to start over, but as we get time on the floor and experience, more guys will step up. All they need is confidence."
The Seasiders, who were one of the best rebounding teams in the nation before Salisbury's injury, beat the Yellowjackets 91-78 last night to lengthen their winning streak at the Cannon Activities Center to 14 and gain another game in the conference race.
To do so, the Seasiders had to confront a hustling bunch of Yellowjackets, who came into the game fourth in the nation in 3-pointers made, and were more than willing to turn the basketball game into a 3-point contest.
The Seasiders were confronted with a box-and-1 defense that made things hard for leading scorer Alexus Foyle -- he finished with 23 points but missed 10 shots -- but invited the Seasiders guards to bomb away.
"As the years go by, teams try different things," Foyle said. "I am getting more attention, but as long as I get a 'W' I am a great player. They can pay all the attention they want to me."
And bomb away they did, shooting 26 from beyond the arc to Billings' customary 28. Billings made 13 of them, but the Seasiders were just as game, hitting nine. Spencer Lynn led the Seasiders with four made in seven attempts.
"When they throw a zone, that's what a guard dreams of," Lynn said. "We all have to step up. Scott puts up some phenomenal numbers and one or two guys aren't going to replace him."
The Seasiders pressed almost the entire game, which could be looked at as cruel punishment for the visitors from Montana. The Yellowjackets had more coaches on the bench (three) than available players (two) after Bill Day left the game after six minutes with what Billings coach Craig Carse said was a torn MCL. Billings had put together a 10-game winning streak with the eight players before falling to BYUH.
The Yellowjackets (16-6, 8-5 Pacific West) visit Laie again tomorrow for another shot at the Seasiders (15-3, 9-2).
Hawaii Pacific 102, Western New Mexico 70: Four players scored in double figures as the Sea Warriors improved to 15-8 overall and 4-7 in the PacWest.
Nate Block and Leandro Maruoka had double-doubles.
Matt Enriquez led Western New Mexico (3-21, 1-12) with 25 points.
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