Mar 1, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Younger Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) goes to the basket in opposition to West Virginia Mountaineers guard Toby Okani (5) in the course of the first half at Marriott Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Grey-Imagn Photos Fousseyni Traore scored 20 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench Saturday evening as No. 25 BYU exploded within the second half to rout visiting West Virginia 77-56 in a Massive 12 Convention recreation in Provo, Utah.
Egor Demin added 15 factors for the Cougars (21-8, 12-6), which tied No. 9 Iowa State for fourth within the convention with two video games left. BYU, which has gained six straight video games by a median of 14.2 factors, additionally bought 13 from Richie Saunders.
Javon Small scored 15 factors for the Mountaineers (17-12, 8-10), who’ve alternated wins and losses during the last 5 video games to stay squarely on the NCAA Match bubble. West Virginia made simply 33.3 % of its area objectives, together with 8 of 27 (29.6 %) from the 3-point line.
Nonetheless, it was nonetheless an in depth recreation at halftime earlier than the Cougars exploded. They opened the second half with a 10-2 run, taking a 35-21 lead when Keba Keita dunked off Demin’s feed with 16:44 left. The margin reached 20 on Demin’s 3-pointer on the 9:52 mark and BYU by no means regarded again.
The Cougars canned 20 of 33 photographs within the second half to complete the sport at 52.7 % from the sector. In addition they managed the glass 43-32 and outscored the guests within the paint by a whopping 46-22.
BYU entered the sport as the primary group this century to get pleasure from three straight video games with at the very least 90 factors, 50 % area objective capturing, 12 3-pointers and 12 or fewer turnovers. A gradual begin doomed that streak, although not the Cougars’ eventual success.
The Mountaineers slowed the tempo and defended properly sufficient to personal a 17-13 lead with 4:51 left when Small drilled an extended 3-pointer from Toby Okani. West Virginia made solely 25 % from the ground within the half however dedicated only one turnover.
Nevertheless, the Cougars lastly bought going and ended the half with a 12-2 run that gave them a 25-19 halftime lead. Saunders and Traore mixed for the group’s remaining eight factors in a 2:17 span.
–Area Stage Media
