BYU welcomes Cincinnati to Marriott Center on Saturday evening

The Cougars look to pick up their 10th home win of the season on Saturday.

Author Tyson Jex
BYU welcomes Cincinnati to Marriott Center on Saturday eveningBYU welcomes Cincinnati to Marriott Center on Saturday evening
Nate Edwards

PROVO, Utah - BYU returns to the friendly confines of the Marriott Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, when the Cougars host Cincinnati. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT.

WHERE TO WATCH
Saturday's game can be found on ESPN2 with Roxy Bernstein and King McClure on the call. 

FRIENDLY (FELINE) FIRE
Saturday will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs and second straight season they meet in Provo. After winning the first two games of the series, BYU has dropped two straight to the Bearcats, including a 70-61 setback on Jan. 6, 2024 when Trevin Knell tied the Marriott Center record with nine 3-pointers. 

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THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED US ANYWAY
BYU ended its five-game road losing streak on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with an 83-67 victory over Colorado at the CU Events Center. The Cougars shot a season-high 58.5 percent from the field to secure their first win over the Buffaloes in Boulder since 1902. 

Three Cougars scored in double figures, including a game-high 25 from Richie Saunders as the Cougars picked up their first road win in 329 days. 

HOME SWEET HOME
The Cougars are 9-1 at home this season, two of those wins coming in Big 12 play. A win on Saturday over Cincinnati would mark the 20th consecutive season that BYU has won 10 or more games at the Marriott Center.

BYU is outscoring opponents at home this season by more than 26 points per game (88.1-62.0), while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three and 66.0 percent from the free throw line. Six different Cougars are averaging 10 or more points per game at home this season, inlcuidng a team-high 14.8 from Richie Saunders. 

RIC(HIE) ROLL
Richie Saunders has scored in double figures in four straight games for the first time in his career following his 25-point performance against Colorado. During that stretch, Saunders is averaging 19.8 points per game, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field, 52.2 percent from three and 73.3 percent from the charity stripe. 

The native of Riverton, Utah is averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game during Big 12 play and shooting a Big 12 best 46.3 percent from beyond the arc. 

GameNotes

EGOR TO PLEASE
Egor Demin played a huge role in helping BYU pick up its first road win of the season as the freshman dished out all seven of his assists in the second half as the Cougars outscored the Buffaloes 45-31. 

The 6-foot-9 guard is one of two freshman in NCAA Division I men's basketball to be averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. His 87 assists this season are the 10th most by a freshman in program history. 

LOOKING TO REACH THE CENTURY MARK
Richie Saunders is one 3-pointer away from becoming the fourth player on the roster with 100 or more career 3-pointers, joining Trevin Knell (205), Dawson Baker (114) and Dallin Hall (106). The junior ranks 20th in program history in career 3-point percentage, going 99-of-263 from deep. 

A FEW GOOD MEN
Fousseyni Traore is closing in on becoming just the fifth player in program history with 1,200 points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocks, joining Russell Larson, Yoeli Childs, Brandon Davies and Alan Taylor. 

The senior enters Saturday's contest against the Bearcats with 1,200 points, 788 rebounds and 95 blocks. 

UP NEXT
BYU finishes its two-game home stand on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when the Cougars welcome Baylor to the Marriott Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.