LAS VEGAS (AP) Eric Mika scored 25 points, Nick Emery added 21, and BYU outlasted Loyola Marymount for an 89-81 win in the West Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday.
Emery made a trio of free throws to give BYU its largest lead, 65-51, with 12:52 left. The Cougars led 69-56 three minutes later, but LMU scored 11 straight points, capped by Steven Haney's layup with 6:36 remaining to get within two, 69-67.
BYU (22-10) stretched the lead back to eight, and LMU pulled within four with 1:25 left, but TJ Haws made 6 of 6 free throws for BYU in the final 32 seconds to put the game on ice.
The Cougars, which topped then-No. 1 ranked Gonzaga a week ago, shot 59 percent from the field (13-22) and made 18 of 21 free throws in the second half en route to a third straight win.
Brandon Brown led LMU (15-15) with 22 points, Petr Herman scored 15 on 7-of-8 shooting, and Buah Tuach added 14.
BYU plays the winner of Saint Mary's and Portland in a semifinal game on Monday.
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