PROVO, Utah — No. 12 BYU opens Big 12 play on Saturday, Jan. 6, when the Cougars host fellow newcomer Cincinnati at the Marriott Center. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT.
Saturday’s contest will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Chuck Kempf and Sean Farnham on the call. It will also be broadcast live on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143, KSL 102.7/1160 AM and BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app with Greg Wrubell and Mark Durrant.
No. 12 BYU Cougars (12-1, 0-0 Big 12)
· BYU moved up two spots in the AP Poll to 12th after its 94-68 victory over Wyoming in front of a sold-out crowd at the Marriott Center on Dec. 30.
· The Cougars continue lead the nation in 3-pointers per game after knocking down 14 3-pointers in their 14th straight win over the Cowboys. They have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in all 12 wins this season.
· Aly Khalifa leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (14.0:1) after dishing out a season-high eight assists on Saturday. He enters league play with 42 assists to only three turnovers.
Head Coach – Mark Pope
· Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1996
· Division I Career Record: 176-98 (9th Season)
· Record at BYU: 99-42 (5th Season)
Cincinnati Bearcats (11-2, 0-0 Big 12)
· Cincinnati makes its first trip to Provo at 11-2 overall having won three straight games after concluding non-conference play with a 76-58 win over Evansville on Dec. 29.
· The Bearcats rank second in the nation in rebound margin, sixth in rebounds per game and ninth in defensive rebounds per game.
· Viktor Lakhin is averaging a team-high 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The redshirt junior ranks second in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game.
Head Coach – Wes Miller
· Alma Mater: North Carolina, 2007
· Division I Career Record: 237-165 (13th Season)
· Record at Cincinnati: 52-30 (3rd Season)
Series Information
· Series Record: BYU leads 2-1
· Last Meeting: Cincinnati won 84-59, 3/15/2001
· H/A/N: 0-0/1-0/1-1
