PROVO, Utah — Robert Wright III scored 22 points and added seven assists to help No. 23 BYU remain undefeated with an 86-71 victory over Montana State on Thursday night.
"Rob did a good job at getting downhill. I think he’s really put a stamp on the level of play that we expect from him night in and night out this season, " head coach Kevin Young said after the game. "I was proud of our guys for figuring things out and getting the win.”
Wright III was getting it done all over the stat sheet, recording a season-high seven assists and a career-high five steals. He also led the team in scoring for the fourth time in as many games with 22 points going 9-of-15 from the field.
Freshman Bruce Branch III scored 17 points to match a career-high, adding five rebounds. Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler (15) and Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler (11) were the other Cougars to finish in double figures.
BYU also flashed its defensive talent, especially in the first half. Montana State's 29 first-half points were the fewest by a BYU opponent in a half this season, as the Cougar defense held the Bobcats to 40.7 percent shooting from the field. BYU also finished the night with a season-high 11 team steals.
While the Bobcats were the first team all season to finish a game with more made 3-pointers than the Cougars, BYU produced inside, scoring 46 points in the paint. The Cougars also outrebounded the Bobcats 38-30.
First Half
The Cougars' offensive came out firing on all cylinders, with Branch III scoring a putback layup off his own miss and Wright converting a steal into a transition slam, the first of his career. Montana State answered with four points of its own before Kohler found Chandler in the corner for a 3-pointer to give BYU a 7-4 lead.
an early coast to coast 📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/fIZiFz9YMG
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 13, 2026
BYU kept converting around the basket, getting its next three buckets on driving layups from Branch III, Wright III and Chandler. The Bobcats responded with a 3-pointer of their own, and the Cougars led 13-9 entering the first media timeout.
Defense continued to lead to offense for BYU, as Chandler secured a rebound and found a streaking Wright III for another transition layup.
Kohler joined the scoring for the Cougars, converting a layup and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions. Montana State converted a four-point play to bring the game back within six before freshman Brooks Bahr drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws to extend the lead back to nine.
The Cougar defense maintained its defensive pressure, turning a perimeter block by junior Khadim Mboup into a transition layup for Tyler Betsey. Branch III then grabbed a rebound off a missed Montana State 3-pointer and took it coast to coast, finishing an and-one layup.
That bucket opened an 8-0 scoring run for the Cougars, which included a reverse layup from Betsey and a 3-pointer from Clemson transfer Jake Wahlin. The BYU lead was pushed to 34-17, and the Bobcats were forced to call a timeout.
The Cougars remained in control, responding to a Montana State 3-pointer with a corner 3-pointer from Chandler and a layup from Wright III. Kohler grabbed an offensive rebound and scored inside but Montana State hung around with two more 3-pointers to keep it a 13 point margin.
BYU turned another steal into a transition layup for Bahr, closing out a first half highlighted by disruptive Cougar defense. Montana State's 29 first-half points was its lowest scoring total in a half all season.
Second Half
It was all Branch III for BYU to open the second half. Betsey found the freshman in the corner for a 3-pointer to open the Cougar scoring. Branch III then drained a step-back 3-pointer on the next possession, marking his third consecutive game with multiple made 3-pointers.
the step back @bkbranch3 📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/bkfIg5H3gW
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 13, 2026
The Bobcats had an answer on the other end of the court, scoring 12 points in the first three minutes and bringing BYU's lead back down to 12. But just as quickly as Montana State got going, the Cougars responded. BYU rattled off seven straight points, including another 3-pointer from Kohler.
Mboup recorded his second block of the game and Chandler logged the team's seventh steal. Mboup's block led to a fast-break 3-pointer for Betsey and extended the Cougar lead to 20.
Wright III then carved his way into the paint for his seventh two-point field goal of the game, tying his season high. Montana State wouldn't allow BYU to extend its lead, going on a quick 8-3 run to keep it a 14-point contest.
It was a special night for fifth-year senior Dawson Baker, who drew a foul and knocked down a pair of free throws in his season debut. It was Baker's first game action since tearing his ACL during a matchup against the Miami Hurricanes on Nov. 27, 2025.
Both teams exchanged buckets over the next six minutes, with BYU getting a pair of layups from Wahlin to keep its lead at 16. Chandler then corralled a rebound and got the ball to Wright III, who scored inside.
Wright III shared the ball on the next trip down the court, finding a rolling Mboup for an alley-oop. It was Wright's seventh assist of the night, a season high for a Cougar.
we love a Mboup lob 📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/e8F8bIeQoo
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) November 13, 2026
Chandler followed that highlight with one of his own, nailing a deep 3-pointer to bring his nightly total to 11. He has scored in double figures for BYU every game this year and is the only Cougar to have multiple made 3-pointers in every game this season.
Wright put the icing on the cake for the Cougars, following a made free throw with a steal and a bucket to bring his total to 22 on the night without making a 3-pointer. The Cougars held on through late-game foul trouble for an 86-71 victory.
Up Next
The Cougars continue their homestand as they welcome the Northern Colorado Bears to the Marriott Center on Wednesday, November 18. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with play-by-play available on BYU Radio