PROVO, Utah – Every time the University of San Francisco men's basketball team made a run BYU and more specifically Alex Barcello had an answer.  The Cougars guard finished with a game-high 29 points and was perfect from 3-point range as BYU held on to win 79-73 at the Marriott Center on Thursday.
 
USF (10-12, 4-8 WCC) put on a late rush, coming back from 16 down with under seven minutes to play to cut it to four with under 18 seconds to play.  But the strong finish by the Dons came too late and the Cougars were able to put the game out of reach at the free throw line.  
 
"We are getting closer, we are playing better," said head coach Todd Golden. "At this point in the season and coming off a pause I think this was our best performance over the last few weeks. That is a top-25 type team right now, they've been blasting everybody. To come back from 16 down says a lot about our guys. You've got tip your cap to Alex Barcello. He has a career-night, if he misses a few of those maybe it's a different game."  
 
BYU (18-5, 9-3 WCC) had four in double figures but it was Barcello that was the difference maker. Barcello was absolutely on fire, finishing the night 10-for-13 from the field and set a BYU single game record by going 7-for-7 from beyond the arc. Caleb Lohner had 13, Gideon George had 11, and Brandon Everette had 10.  
 
The Dons finished with three in double figures led by Rishwain's 25.  The sophomore from Southern California logged his most minutes in a USF uniform and was 8-for-13 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. He was also USF's leading rebounder with five.
 
"Julian had his best game as a Don," said Golden. "He's coming on, it's a credit to him, he's a tough competitor and he's starting to get comfortable in our system. He stepped up against a really big-time opponent and it was great to watch."
 
Joining Rishwain in double figures for USF was Jamaree Bouyea with 16 and Khalil Shabazz with 12. Shabazz scored 11 of his 12 points over the final 4:30 helping give the Dons a big push.
 
The Dons did a much better job this contest of limiting the inside damage by the Cougars.  USF was outrebounded by the Cougars 35-29 but USF did a tremendous job on the offensive glass, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds for 14 second chance points. They also held Matt Haarms to just six points and eight rebounds.   
 
The first eight minutes were very even with the Dons leading for most of it.  A pair of free throws by Rishwain had USF up 20-18 with 8:36 to play.  That's when Barcello began to take over for the Cougars.  A three on the next possession gave the Cougars the lead 21-20 and they never looked back.

Overall, the Dons did not have their best night shooting.  USF finished the night shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. The Cougars shot 58.8 percent from the field (30-for-51) from beyond the arc they were 11-for-19.  In the opening half, the Cougars shot 66.7 percent from the field.
 
The Dons wrap up the regular season in Stockton on Saturday when they take on Pacific at the Alex G. Spanos Center.  Saturday's game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on NBC Sports Bay Area.  Ted Robinson and Ben Braun will have the call.  Pat Olson will have the Dons' radio broadcast on the home of USF Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.