FROM START TO FINISH
BYU's last two ranked wins have now come against Kansas as the Cougars defeated No. 23 Kansas 91-57 on Tuesday evening at the Marriott Center. Not only was it the largest margin of victory over a ranked team in program history, but it was also most lopsided regular season loss the Jayhawks have suffered under Bill Self.
The Cougars led from start to finish in their second straight win over the Jayhawks in a sell-out crowd of 17,978. They shot 51.5 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the free throw against KU in their first-ever trip to the Marriott Center. Ten different players had a steal as the Cougars turned 15 Jayhawk turnovers into 15 points.
Richie Saunders was one of five Cougars to score in double figures as the junior finished with a game-high 22 points, going 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-8 from three. Trevin Knell had 15, including a corner 3-pointer in the opening minute making him the 54th player in program history with 1,000 points. Keba Keita was a rebound away from his third double-double, with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Dallin Hall scored in doube figures off the bench for a second consecutive game.
THE KNELL GUN
With the first of four 3-pointers on Tuesday, Trevin Knell eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, becoming the 54th Cougar in program history to do so and joining teammate Fousseyni Traore on the list (Dawson Baker scored over 1,000 points during his three-year career at UC Irvine).
He finished 4-of-7 from behind the arc, giving him 218 for his career, which are the fifth-most makes in program history. Only Jimmer Fredette (296), Jonathan Tavernari (265), TJ Haws (242) and Jackson Emery (230) have connected on more deep balls than Knell, who will makes his 141st appearance on Saturday.
BYU is 11-0 during his career when he has three or more assists as the senior had a season-high four assists in the win over the Jayhawks, one off his career set last season in a win over Evansville at the Marriott Center.
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In BYU's sweep of the Sunflower State schools, Keba Keita averaged 9.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, all while shooting 75.0 percent from the field. He also had multiple offensive rebounds in each game, marking the 17th and 18th time this season that he has pulled down two or more boards on the offensive glass.
In Saturday's win over K-State, Keita had a career-high five blocks to go along with nine points and 11 rebounds, nine of those coming on the defensive glass. He followed that up with another near double-double against Kansas as the native of Bamako, Mali finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. The Cougars are 6-0 this season when the junior scores in double figures.
