Saunders' clutch free throws lift BYU to 96-95 victory over No. 19 Arizona

With the win over the Wildcats, Saunders and the Cougars defeated a ranked team in consecutive games for the first time since 1988.

Author Halle Taylor
Saunders' clutch free throws lift BYU to 96-95 victory over No. 19 ArizonaSaunders' clutch free throws lift BYU to 96-95 victory over No. 19 Arizona
Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. — Richie Saunders scored a team-high 23 points including two free throws in the final seconds as BYU defeated No. 19 Arizona 96-96 on Saturday evening at a sold out McKale Center. 

In a game that included 20 lead changes and 11 ties, Saunders last second free thee throws lifted the Cougars to their first win over a ranked Wildcat team after Caleb Love had scored five straight points to give the home team the lead. Saunders' 23 points marks the seventh time he has scored 20-plus during Big 12 play as the junior went 8-of-10 from the field, 3-of-4 from three and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. 

BYU’s 96 points from tonight are the most by any team visiting the McKale Center since Dec. 28, 2009, when BYU beat Arizona 99-69 where Jimmer Fredette scored a then school record 49 points. 

The Cougars outshot the Wildcats 55.4-54.2 turning 14 Wildcat turnovers in to 22 points. BYU also held an advantage in second-chance points, tallying 19 to the Wildcats’ 15. Additionally, BYU took 30 points from off the bench, highlighted by 14 points from freshman Kanon Catchings.

First Half
The Cougars started on the board with a Saunders 3-pointer off a Trevin Knell assist. The Wildcats answered with a 7-0 run to take the lead. Mag ended the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play following an offensive rebound. 

Saunders and Mag continued their momentum, each draining another bucket to put the scoreboard at 11-10 Arizona. With 14:15 left, Mag conncted from behind the arc to tie it up at 15-all but the Wildcats were able to generate an 8-2 run to retake the lead. 

Dawson Baker scored five-straight points, highlighted by a 3-pointer from the top of the key. A Catchings takeaway led to Demin tying the game at 22. Halfway through the first half, Trey Stewart nailed a triple, helping BYU take the lead. Catchings made two free throws to push the Cougars lead to five points. 

With 5:28 on the clock, Demin found the back of the net before a Wildcat turnover resulted in Saunders' second 3-pointer of the game to extend the lead. 

Keita threw down a dunk and on BYU’s next possession, Saunders hit a floater to push the Cougars lead to seven.  Keita stole the ball on Arizona’s next possession resulting in two more points for the Cougars. After a 4-0 Wildcat run, Demin made a jumper late in the half and BYU went to the locker room 47-44 over Arizona.

Saunders led the Cougars at the break with 14 points, going 5-of-6 from the field. Demin and Mag claimed eight points each, respectively.

Second Half
Demin opened the half with a 3-pointer from the logo with the shot clock running out. The Wildcats made two 3-pointers in a row to match the Cougars at 50. Knell went 3-of-3 from the charity stripe after getting foul to help BYU retake the lead, 53-50. 

Each team traded triples, keeping it a tight game. At 14:08, Demin had a takeaway and found Saunders for a fast break layup. After Dallin Hall missed a three, he immediately swiped the ball back from the Wildcats and found Kanon Catchings in the corner for a 3-pointer, putting the score at 66-64 BYU.

With 11:07 remaining, Baker made a layup and on Arizona’s following possession, Hall notched another steal to hit another layup. 

Catchings hit two-straight 3-pointers to help extend the Cougar lead to 76-71. The Wildcats went on a 6-2 run to tighten BYU’s lead to one point. Neither side of the court found the net for 90 seconds until Demin made a layup with 5:50 remaining.

Keita recorded another dunk with under five minutes to play. Additionally, Keita stopped a 4-0 Wildcat run with a layup off of Hall’s pass.

Mag drained his second 3-pointer of the game with 2:02 remaining to put the Cougar advantage at four, 90-86. Two free throws from the Arizona cut the lead to two but Keita had an answer on the other end scoring near the rim.

With 41 seconds to play, Saunders put down an off-the-glass layup. The Wildcats drained a 3-ball on their next possession to put the Cougars one point over Arizona with 33 seconds remaining.

Arizona’s Caleb Love made two free throws with 13 seconds left to take a one-point lead. Saunders was fouled on a layup attempt and sunk both of his free throws to seal the win 96-95.

Up Next
The Cougars will travel up north to Tempe for a matchup against the Sun Devils on Wednesday in the Desert Financial Arena at 7:30 p.m. MST. Listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio or watch on ESPN+.