Make consecutive conference wins convincing for BYU.
The Cougars routed Cincinnati 80-52 Saturday night at the Marriott Center in Provo, improving to 13-6 on the season and 4-4 against Big 12 competition.
3 takeaways
BYU beat Cincinnati’s elite defense. Coming into the game, the Bearcats had held opponents to a 28% shooting clip from 3-point range as Kenpom’s No. 9 overall defensive unit in the country.
None of that stalled the Cougars. BYU shot 57.1% from the field and a sizzling 62.5% from distance, marking the program’s best shooting show since 2021.
The Cougars had 18 assists and averaged 1.33 points per possession, with five different players posting at least eight points.
In the second half alone, Kevin Young’s team went 11 of 15 from behind the arc. Yes, you read that correctly – BYU made 11 of 15 3-pointers in just one half.
Considering the competition, it definitely qualifies as one of the best offensive outings in recent program history, and maybe ever.
Richie Saunders continued his All-Big 12 campaign. Saunders provided a game-high 21 points, marking his fifth 20+ performance of the season.
He hit five 3-pointers — he’s now shooting 50 percent from the distance in the league — and added five rebounds with his typical relentless defensive effort.
Having scored 46 points over the last two games, Saunders makes a compelling case for Big 12 Player of the Week honors, and more importantly, continues to pad out his resume for some sort of late-season recognition.
Egor Demin enjoyed his best performance of conference play. No one is more important to this Cougars team than its freshman phenom, whose performance usually dictates BYU’s rates on any given night.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Demin played a pivotal role in Saturday’s loss for the Bearcats. He posted 15 points – his most against any Big 12 opponent – while adding five boards and seven assists.
As the Cougars pushed the tempo offensively, Demin thrived, looking much more confident in his shooting and playmaking abilities.
The difference is staggering. When Demin is at his best, the Cougars are a beast to compete against. Saunders has been the team’s best and most consistent player thus far, but Demin is clearly the most valuable.
If he continues this upward trend, BYU should find itself with a ticket to the big dance in March.
