When it gets to winning time, No. 12 BYU has a backcourt that can make the right plays.

The Cougars saw almost all of a 14-point lead disappear but Alex Barcello and Te’Jon Lucas combined for 26 of BYU’s 39 points in the second half to help secure a 74-68 road victory at Missouri State on Saturday.

Barcello scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half and Te’Jon Lucas tallied 17 points, 11 in the second 20 minutes, answering every run the homestanding Bears could make.

“They’re tough,” BYU coach Mark Pope said of his guard line. “Alex hasn’t said two words since we lost on Wednesday. This really matters to all these guys. We have this ridiculously difficult schedule so we can be tested and grow. We have to dig deep and find out who we are.”

Spencer Johnson scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half on a trio of 3-pointers as the Cougars extended a 24-23 lead to a 35-27 advantage at the break. BYU held Missouri State without a basket over the final six minutes of the first half and charged hard out of the gate in the second with Trevin Knell, Barcello and Seneca Knight scoring buckets for a 41-27 lead at the 18:13 mark.

The Bears rallied with an 11-2 run to get back in the game, closing to two, 45-43, on a 3-pointer by Jaylen Minnett with 13:18 to play. Barcello and Lucas continued to get big baskets for BYU to stay in front each time Missouri State made a run.

“Te’Jon and I are always talking on the court,” Barcello said. “We talk about how we need to read the game and read what comes to us. That’s why it’s such a fun backcourt to be a part of. I feel like he’s such an unselfish player and he’s always trying to make the right play. We preach to guys to make the right play and make the right read down the stretch.”

Missouri State drew within one, 63-62, with 1:42 to play after a basket from Gaige Prim. Barcello stuck a jumper to counter then came up with a steal on the defensive end. A rebound follow by Caleb Lohner with under a minute to play gave BYU a 67-62 advantage and the Cougars made 7 of 10 from the line to hold off the Bears.

Lohner finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Knight made two huge defensive plays down the stretch, drawing a charge with 2:36 to play and blocking a Prim shot with under a minute remaining.

“I’m filled with pride for these guys,” Pope said. “It’s been a really hard week for us between illnesses and injuries and taking our first loss. And it didn’t get any easier for us today. This was our third straight road game. All three opponents sold out and are really talented. We found a way to grow closer to each other and build trust with each other. That will bode well for us as we go forward.”

Minnett had five 3-points and led Missouri State (4-4) with 19 points. Prim scored 17 for the Bears but the team’s second-leading scorer, Isaiah Mosley (18 points per game) went scoreless in just seven minutes.

BYU was without Gideon George (illness) for the second straight game and is still adjusting to the loss of starting center Gavin Baxter for the season to an ACL tear on Wednesday.

The Cougars (7-1) will come home to the Marriott Center to host Utah State on Wednesday.

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