PROVO, Utah — In an impressive season opener for both squads, Egor Demin led the BYU Cougars to an 88-50 win over Central Arkansas on Tuesday night, showcasing his skills with 18 points and 11 assists.

Kanon Catchings added a significant contribution by scoring 12 of his 17 points during the second half, while Richie Saunders impressed with 16 points and eight rebounds. Keba Keita also made his mark by securing 10 rebounds to complement his six points.

The Cougars capitalized on their defensive effort, scoring 24 points from 18 turnovers committed by Central Arkansas.

Elias Cato stood out for Central Arkansas, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 21 points.

BYU maintained a commanding lead throughout the game, never allowing Central Arkansas to take the advantage. They ended the first half strong with a 28-8 run, going into halftime ahead 46-23. Demin capped off the first half with both a dunk and a three-pointer, contributing 13 points by halftime, while Saunders added 10 points to the tally.

This game marked the debut for BYU head coach Kevin Young, who took the helm as the Cougars’ 19th head coach in April. Young returns to collegiate coaching after serving as the associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns, having last worked with Dick Hunsaker at Utah Valley in the 2005-06 season.

Meanwhile, Central Arkansas is also under new leadership, as John Shulman has taken over the coaching responsibilities after leading Alabama-Huntsville last season.