No. 10 BYU holds off Kansas State 83-73 as Keita posts career-high 16 rebounds

With the win, the Cougars have a 10-game win streak for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Author Halle Taylor
No. 10 BYU holds off Kansas State 83-73 as Keita posts career-high 16 reboundsNo. 10 BYU holds off Kansas State 83-73 as Keita posts career-high 16 rebounds
Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. — No. 10 BYU overcame 19 turnovers to beat the Kansas State 83-73 at Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday.

 "Im not trying to be like a smart aleck but, just winning, like finding a way to win a conference game on the road,' second-year head coach Kevin Young said. "We're not really a high turnover team, but I give Kansas State credit. They were coming in super physical, and the only way we were able to negate that was our offensive rebounding. And so that's probably what I'm the most proud of, outside just getting the win, is we talk a lot about offensive rebounding, and that was the way we were able to negate coughing the ball up 19 times."

Keba Keita notched his second double-double of the season with a career-high 16 rebounds and 11 points, going 4-of-4 from the field. The Bamako, Mali, native also added two blocks.

Mihailo Boskovic made two 3-pointers for the first time this season. The senior finished with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, along with three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal.

Freshman AJ Dybantsa led BYU with 24 points, extending his streak of double-figure scoring in every game this season. Dybantsa also tallied eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Even with a season-high 19 turnovers, the Cougars out-shot the Wildcats 44.4 to 41.8 percent, out-rebounded 47 to 35, out-blocked six to two and out-assisted 17 to 15.

Led by Keita and Dybantsa, BYU matched its season-high 47 rebounds, producing 20 second-chance points.

First Half
The Wildcats controlled the tempo early, forcing three steals while going 4-of-7 from the field to take a 9-5 lead into the first media timeout. Dybantsa came out of the timeout and made the next six points for BYU with two free throws, a layup and a jumper. The Cougars knotted the score at 14 off a corner three from Richie Saunders.

Back-to-back blocks from Abdullah Ahmed and Kennard Davis Jr. held Kansas State scoreless, then Mihailo Boskovic converted on an and-one layup on the fast break. Ahmed grabbed the rebound on the Wildcats’ next possession and assisted Dybantsa for BYU’s second-straight and-one. Dybantsa capped the 9-0 spurt with a 3-pointer to take a 5-point advantage with 11:55 left in the half.

After a 6-2 Kansas State run, the Wildcats were held without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. During that span, BYU went cold as well, managing just four points over the next three minutes. Saunders, Boskovic and Davis Jr. later powered a 9-3 run with a 3-pointer each to regain momentum for BYU, taking a 38-30 lead with just 3:14 on the clock.

With two free throws and his third 3-pointerl of the game, Saunders put together a 5-0 personal run in under 30 seconds to force a Kansas State timeout. Out of the break, Saunders missed another attempt from deep, but Keita tipped it in. On the Wildcats’ next possession, Nate Johnson pushed the ball up the floor before Boskovic swatted away his dunk attempt, sending BYU into the locker room with a 45-35 lead.

Second Half
Personal fouls, turnovers and missed shots plagued BYU early in the second half, keeping them scoreless for over three minutes as Kansas State opened with a 4-0 run. Wright III found Keita for a jumper to get the Cougars on the board, then knocked down a three 90 seconds later.

Ahmed made the next two BYU baskets, a jumper set up by Saunders and a tip-in off a Wright III miss. The teams traded layups into a media timeout, with BYU holding a 58-49 lead with 11:23 left.

Boskovic made a corner three off an assist from Wright III to end another nearly three-minute dry spell. Dybantsa converted on an and-one jumper to give BYU a 74-64 lead before Boskovic fouled out, sending the Wildcats to the line for two charity shots.

The teams exchanged free throws and layups before Saunders and Dybantsa went on a 4-0 run into a media timeout. Kansas State responded with a three out of the break, cutting the deficit to nine with 2:52 remaining.

After a Wright III turnover, the Wildcats scored, then fouled Keita on BYU’s next possession. The senior made both shots to keep BYU up nine. Following two fruitless possessions for both teams, Wright III was fouled and put down both shots. PJ Haggerty made a layup, but then sent the Baylor transfer back to the line on the following inbounds pass. Wright III made one to seal the BYU win 83-73.

Up Next
The Cougars return to the Marriott Center for their Big 12 home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when they host Arizona State. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on Peacock.

Notes&Quotes
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