Cougars snap Kansas State’s six-game winning streak

Richie Saunders tallied his first-ever double-double and Keba Keita earned a career-high five blocks in tonight’s win over the Wildcats.

Author Brenna Seeman
Cougars snap Kansas State’s six-game winning streakCougars snap Kansas State’s six-game winning streak
Box Score

PROVO, Utah – The Cougars moved to 17-8 on the season and 8-6 in Big 12 play with tonight’s 80-65 win over Kansas State. 

BYU held K-State to a season-low 22 first half points as they led by 18 points, 40-22, at halftime. The Cougars shot 48.4 percent from the field while holding the Wildcats to 27.3 percent and nine straight misses from behind the arc. 

Saunders scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the first half as the junior recorded his first career double-double with 14 rebounds, five of those coming on the offensive glass. Keba Keita narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds to go along with a career-high five blocks. 

Dallin Hall scored 14 of his season-high 16 points in the second half going of 7-of-9 from the free throw line after intermission. Fousseyni Traore was the third and final Cougar in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds. 

The Cougars shot 49.0 percent from the field and 77.0 percent from the free throw line, going 20-of-26. BYU had 40 points in the paint, 21 points off opponent turnovers and outrebounded Kansas State by 10 in tonight's matchup.

First Half
Keita opened the scoring for the Cougars from inside the paint but K-State immediately responded with a 3-pointer. The Cougars fired back with a 7-0 run that consisted of a triple by Saunders, back-to-back blocks from Keita and two layups from senior Trevin Knell.

The Wildcats knocked down two more shots from behind the arc to tie the game at 9-9 before Egor Demin gave BYU the lead 11-9 with a fast break dunk. After a K-State free throw, the Cougars went on a 13-2 run led by a pair of triples from Saunders and Dawson Baker to push the lead to double digits, 24-12.

BYU’s Baker and Fousseyni Traore knocked down four free throws before the Cougars and Wildcats traded baskets for the next several minutes, bringing the score to 32-20 with BYU holding its lead.

After four scoreless minutes on the court, Hall drove baseline for a layup, extending BYU’s lead, 34-20. In the final minutes of the first half, a pair of dunks from Traore and Saunders gave BYU the 40-22 lead. Traore finished the first half perfect from the floor, going 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line for 10 points.

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Second Half
The Wildcats opened the second half with back-to-back buckets before Mawot Mag got a steal and a layup for his first points of the game. A lob by Hall found Keita for BYU’s fourth dunk of the game, followed by Hall’s first make from beyond the arc, giving BYU its largest lead of the night, 49-29. On the other side of the court, Keita tallied his fourth block and 10th rebound of the night. 

After another BYU scoring drought, Hall converted near the rim. The Wildcats responded with three made field goals and two trips to the charity stripe, bringing the game within 10 at 55-45. Hall went to the free throw line in back-to-back possessions before Trey Stewart knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game and the Cougars led 63-47 with just under eight minutes in regulation. 

After two missed K-State free throws, Mihailo Boskovic scored inside the paint for his first points of the game. Saunders went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe and Keita tallied block number five on the night, putting the Cougars up 71-53.

The Wildcats went on a 7-0 run before Hall knocked down two free throws. With one minute left, Kansas State scored its sixth 3-pointer of the game. Demin knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game as the clock hit zero, giving BYU the 80-65 win.  

Up Next
The Cougars are back in action at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Feb. 18 when they take on No. 17 Kansas. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN.