In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Richie Saunders showcased his talent by sinking six 3-pointers and accumulating 22 points, leading BYU to a hard-fought 81-75 victory over UCF. This win marks BYU’s fourth consecutive triumph, placing their record at 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12 Conference.

Mawot Mag contributed significantly with 18 points, while also equaling his career-best with five assists. Trevin Knell added 15 points to the scoreboard, and Keba Keita supported the team with 10 points and seven rebounds.

On the opposing side, UCF’s Keyshawn Hall was a standout player, scoring 20 points. Moustapha Thiam, Darius Johnson, and Jordan Ivy-Curry also made substantial contributions, with Thiam scoring 17 points, Johnson adding 16, and Ivy-Curry tallying 14 points.

The second half kicked off with a burst from BYU; Mag scored six points while Keita’s dunk capped off an 8-0 run that put them ahead 46-40. However, UCF fought back, with Ivy-Curry and Hall hitting consecutive 3-pointers that allowed UCF to momentarily take the lead at 58-55 with 8:42 left in the game.

The contest featured three additional ties before Saunders drained a pivotal 3-pointer, giving BYU a 68-65 lead with just over four minutes remaining. The Cougars held onto this advantage, securing the win as time wound down.

In the first half, UCF managed to gain a slight edge going into halftime with a score of 40-38, bolstered by Johnson’s 12 points and Thiam’s contributions of 10 points. For BYU, Knell stood out in the first half, netting 13 points, complemented by Saunders’ 11 points.

Looking ahead, BYU will host Arizona on Tuesday, while UCF will be preparing for a home game against Cincinnati on Wednesday.