He simply couldn’t be stopped.
BYU’s Yoeli Childs put on a show as the junior forward scored a game-high 31 points and added 11 rebounds to earn his seventh double-double of the season.
T.J. Haws chipped in with 18 points and six rebounds and Zac Seljaas added 14 points, six rebounds and five steals for the Cougars in the 74-59 victory at Vivint SmartHome Arena as part of the Beehive Classic.
Childs made the rivalry his own highlight reel as the 6-foot-8 225-pounder threw down one of the top dunks of the season.
After driving into the lane, Haws passed the ball out to Childs who drove to the hoop before posterizing two Utah players in the process with a nasty dunk that put the crowd on its feet.
This DUNK!! BYU’s Yoeli Child’s throwing it down! My Goodness! #SCTop10 #BYUvsUTAH #CBB #HolyWar @byuROC pic.twitter.com/e45ZHnIQR8
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) December 8, 2018
The game was a little personal for Childs who was a star player coming out of high school. However, the Utes never offered Childs who chose to play at BYU over the likes of Texas Tech, Auburn and Arizona State, among others.
“Everybody wants to say it’s just another game,” Childs told reporters after the game. “It’s a big rivalry game and it means a lot. It’s a little bit more than your average game.”
His performance helped BYU beat Utah for the second consecutive year and have now won 13 of the last 17 games.
Sedrick Barefield scored a team-high 16 points and Timmy Allen added 13 for the Utes.
Here’s how former players and fans reacted after the game:
Too far of a drive? pic.twitter.com/bDYfDwiqsA
— The Roar Of Cougars (@byuROC) December 8, 2018
???? pic.twitter.com/nuVmZRAnVA
— The Roar Of Cougars (@byuROC) December 8, 2018
The bench reaction is everything!! Grateful for the boys! #GoCougs https://t.co/Y9mgNz1HkP
— Yoeli Childs (@yochilds22) December 8, 2018
Wow ?? Love playing with these boys?? Also, grateful that one is over and the nerves are out ? Thank you Ute fans and BYU fans for being cool! #BYU #NextOne https://t.co/lt5tF5VZZ2
— Nick Emery (@NickEmery04) December 8, 2018
Dude from BYU just dunked on the whole University of Utah ?
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) December 8, 2018
CHILDS PLAY ? #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/9k7S6gHg7E
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2018
Wonder when yoeli Childs is gonna get national attention. He's putting up all-american type numbers this season
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) December 8, 2018
YOELI CHILDS: WANTED FOR MURDER
VICTIMS: THE RIM, UTAH BASKETBALL
— Vanquish The Foe (@VanquishTheFoe) December 8, 2018
Well now we know the Utes are the 4th best team in the state. #GoCougs #BYUHoops #BYU
— Andrew Garrett (@AndrewGGarrett) December 8, 2018
I just lost my spot as my husband’s screensaver to @yochilds22 but I’m not even mad about it. #GOCOUGS #BYUHoops pic.twitter.com/n0OK6G1Cn0
— Tess Anderson (@tessianderson) December 8, 2018
BYU needs to stop playing Utah. All we get out of it is a win, emotionally drained and a chance at injury heading into conference play. I dont feel this way at all, but I wanted to see what it feels like to post something so ridiculous. #BYUvsUTAH #BYUHoops #BYU pic.twitter.com/FMEH4pbaMS
— Chris Whetstone (@cwillywhet) December 8, 2018
This when Utes pretend to not care about basketball? #BYUhoops
— Fetcher (@BYUBrochacho) December 8, 2018
Utah hasn’t beaten BYU in basketball in 1,085 days.
— BYU Fan (@BYULiveTweet) December 8, 2018
It's crazy to think my two year old nephew has never seen BYU lose to Utah in basketball. #GoCougs
— ?Re-Joyce? (@LJoyce11) December 8, 2018
— Jason Tripp (@j_tripp) December 8, 2018
Watch your head! https://t.co/WWxNAXyhO9
— Jimmer Fredette (@jimmerfredette) December 9, 2018
Unless the Utes can begin to space out the floor on offense, they’ll be dreadful to watch. They have one shooter from the looks of it.
I think that was a good win Cougs, I don’t know, Utes don’t look like much of a team right now.
— UteDaddy (@utedaddy) December 8, 2018
Can you imagine if we took Larry K’s contract and gave it to the football program to pay coaches and hire other good ones? Yes please.
— Deer Auld Christmas (@DearOldCrimson) December 6, 2018
Utah basketball is an embarrassment. Was last year too. I’m ready to find the next coach.
— Foxy the Snowman (@FoxOnABox_) December 8, 2018
More like child please…. I see you @yochilds22 https://t.co/lLmg7Yze2f
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) December 8, 2018
Oh utah lost? Shocking. pic.twitter.com/n7HpxxzZIP
— Trav (@__Trav_) December 8, 2018
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Holy War: Best Reactions From Utah’s Thrilling Comeback Victory Over BYU