MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Tyler Haws scored 18 points and BYU overcame a 14-point, first-half deficit to sweep the regular-season series against Saint Mary's with a 60-57 victory on Saturday night.
Kyle Collinsworth added 14 points and Nate Austin had five points, 11 rebounds and the go-ahead free throw with 1 minute left for the Cougars (18-10, 10-5 West Coast Conference). BYU bounced back from a loss at Pacific on Thursday to move back into second place in the conference by a half-game over the Gaels.
Brad Waldow had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Stephen Holt had 13 points for Saint Mary's (19-8, 9-5), which had swept the season series against the Cougars the previous two seasons. The Gaels lost for the second time at home this season - matching their total from the previous two seasons combined.
BYU chipped into a 10-point deficit early in the second half and continually got within three but struggled to get over that hump. The Saint Mary's lead stayed between three and five points for a span of nearly 9 minutes before Haws hit a jumper and then stole the ball from Beau Levesque to set up Matt Carlino's layup that tied the game at 53 with 3:44 to play.
Austin's tip-in of a miss by Carlino gave the Cougars their first lead since 2-0. Waldow tied the game at 55 with a putback with 1:26 to play, before Austin made one of two free throws to put the Cougars back ahead.
Kerry Carter turned the ball over twice in the final minute for the Gaels. Carlino made two free throws with 5.1 seconds left and BYU fouled Holt with 4 seconds to play to prevent a possible game-tying 3-pointer.
Holt made both free throws to make it a one-point game, but Skyler Halford answered with two free throws at the other end. Holt was fouled again with 1.6 seconds to play and missed the front-end of a one-and-one to end the game.
The Gaels got off to a fast start by pounding the ball inside to Waldow and getting BYU's big men in early foul trouble. Eric Mika and Austin both went to the bench early with two fouls as Saint Mary's built a 25-11 lead midway through the half when Waldow made a basket, fed Jordan Giusti for a layup and made a pair of free throws to extend the lead.
The Cougars found their shooting stroke later in the half, making six straight baskets at one point, and used an 8-0 run to get back into the game. Saint Mary's still lead 35-25 at the break.
The game was preceded by a ceremony to retire the jersey of Saint Mary's all-time leading scorer Matthew Dellavedova.
