No. 23 BYU welcomes Montana State to Marriott Center for first time since 1987

PROVO, Utah - No. 23 BYU plays its second game in three days on Thursday, Nov. 12, when the Cougars welcome Montana State to the Marriott Center for the first time since 1987. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.

WHERE TO WATCH
Thursday's game can be seen on ESPN+ with Dave McCann, Blaine Fowler and Spencer Linton on the call. 

WE'RE DRIVING CADILLACS IN OUR DREAMS
BYU extended its non-conference home win streak to 28 games on Tuesday evening with a 98-82 victory over Queens.

Five Cougars scored in double figures in the Cougars second-ever win over the Royals, shooting 53.8 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.7 percent from the free throw line. They knocked down a season-high 17 3-pointers marking the second straight game with 15 or more triples.

Robert Wright III led the Cougars in scoring for a third consecutive game as the junior finished with 21 points going 9-of-19 from the field, 2-of-6 from three and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. He also added a team-high six assists and four rebounds.

Jaxon Kohler nearly had his first double-double at BYU, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds, three of those coming on the offensive glass. 

BOB THE BUILDER OR BOB THE CAT?
Thursday will be the 65th meeting between the two programs and first since a 90-89 victory for the Cougars on Nov. 27, 1987 at the Marriott Center in Provo. BYU is 37-27 all-time against the Bobcats including a 22-9 record in Provo.

BYU went 33-of-64 from the field, 2-of-5 from 3-point range and 22-of-28 from the free throw line during their last meeting where five Cougars scored in double figures. Michael Smith had 19 points and seven rebounds with Andy Toolson chipping in 19 points of his own. Jeff Chatman (18), Jim Usevitch (11) and Marty Haws (16) also reached double figures. 

Nate Pickens is the lone player on the roster that has faced the Bobcats as the 5th year guard averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in two games during his time at UC Riverside. In a 83-80 win for the Highlanders on Dec. 18, 2024, Pickens finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 26 minutes of action. 

MONSOON SEASON
BYU went 17-of-37 from 3-point range in Tuesday's win over Queens bringing their season total to 44 which is the most through three games for the Cougars in the past 30 seasons, four more than they hit to open the 2023-24 season. 

12 of those 17 3-pointers came in the opening 20 minutes for the Cougars, tied for the third-most 3-point field goals in any half in program history. It also marked the 13th time in program history BYU connected on 10 or more 3-pointers in a first half and first since its win over Iowa State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship in 2025. 

ALL 17 THREES https://t.co/CKzmyw0azc

— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 11, 2026

Tyler Betsey went 2-of-5 from behind the arc giving him 12 triples on the season, one more than Alex Barcello (2020-21) and Jimmer Fredette (2010-11) hit in the first three games of their junior and senior seasons respectively. 

PICKENS AND POP
After missing last season due to an injury, Nate Pickens has been featured in all three of BYU's games this season including being the first player off the bench in the wins over Ohio State and Queens. The 5th year guard reintroduced himself to Cougar Nation on Tuesday finishing with 15 points, two rebounds and two steals.

It may have been only his second home game as a Cougar but marked the second time during his collegiate career scoring in double figures at the Marriott Center having scored 18 points going 6-of-10 from the field, 3-of-4 from three and 3-of-5 from the free throw line during his junior season at UC Riverside. 

TAKING AND MAKING SHOTS
BYU is 32-1 under Young when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field with the lone setback coming last season at Oklahoma State. The Cougars are outscoring opponents by more than 20 points per game (91.8-71.7) in those games and shooting over 40.0 percent from 3-point range. 

The Cougars are also 48-2 under Young when they finish a game with a higher field goal percentage than the opponent. 

FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
A week and a half into the 2026-27 season, BYU owns one of the top offensives in the nation ranking sixth in offensive rating (140.2), six in true shooting percentage (67.8), seventh in effective field goal percentage (65.5) and 13th in points per game (100.0) according to CBB Analytics. 

Young's emphasis on getting out in transition and make the extra pass for better looks has been on full display as BYU also ranks 18th in fast breaks points per game (21.0) and 15th in 3-point field goal percentage (44.9).