PROVO, Utah — Richie Saunders was the standout player for BYU as he netted 22 points, leading the team to a convincing 91-57 win over the 23rd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Tuesday evening.
Trevin Knell contributed with 15 points, while Mawot Mag added 13, aiding the Cougars (18-8, 9-6 Big 12) in their third consecutive victory. The trio combined to sink 11 shots from beyond the arc.
For Kansas (17-9, 8-7), Hunter Dickinson was the top scorer with 12 points. The Jayhawks found themselves struggling, with their deficit reaching as much as 38 points during the second half.
BYU’s efficient shooting and aggressive defense were key to their success. Early on, Mag and Keba Keita scored two baskets each, helping to ignite a 14-2 run that put the Cougars ahead 22-7 just a short time into the game.
The Jayhawks attempted to close the distance when BYU went nearly six minutes without scoring, reducing the gap to 25-17 with a three-pointer from Rylan Griffin.
However, BYU responded with a barrage of three-pointers, regaining a comfortable lead. In the final 6:15 of the first half, they connected on five three-point shots, with back-to-back efforts from Saunders and Knell, concluding the half with a score of 46-26.
Key Observations:
For Kansas, this loss marked their second in a row and their biggest defeat of the season under head coach Bill Self, as they committed 15 turnovers and allowed a staggering 52% shooting from BYU.
On the other hand, BYU showcased impressive ball movement with 15 assists on their 15 first-half field goals, finishing the game with 14 successful three-pointers against the Jayhawks.
A pivotal moment came when Kansas managed to restrict BYU from scoring for six minutes during the first half, but Mag and Saunders revitalized the Cougars with consecutive three-pointers to push the lead back to double digits.
Stat Highlight:
The Jayhawks have gone without a lead in their last 80 minutes of play.
Looking ahead, Kansas will be hosting Oklahoma State on Saturday, while BYU will travel to face Arizona.
