PROVO, Utah — In a dominant performance on Tuesday night, Richie Saunders put up 22 points, leading BYU to a decisive 91-57 victory over the 23rd-ranked Kansas.
Trevin Knell contributed 15 points while Mawot Mag added 13, helping the Cougars improve their record to 18-8 overall and 9-6 in the Big 12, marking their third consecutive win. The trio combined for an impressive 11 shots from beyond the arc.
Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson was the top scorer for the Jayhawks with 12 points, but the team faced a significant challenge, falling behind by as much as 38 points in the second half.
The Cougars showcased effective shooting and aggressive defensive tactics throughout the match. Early in the game, Mag and Keba Keita’s scoring helped propel a 14-2 surge, giving BYU a 22-7 advantage just seven minutes in.
Kansas attempted to narrow the gap during a stretch where BYU went scoreless for six minutes. Rylan Griffin’s three-pointer helped the Jayhawks reduce the disparity to 25-17.
However, BYU quickly regained control, sinking several three-pointers that resulted in a 46-26 halftime lead. The Cougars netted five three-point shots in the final six minutes of the first half, including consecutive baskets from Saunders and Knell.
Key Observations:
The Jayhawks faced their first back-to-back losses of the season, plagued by 15 turnovers and allowing 52% shooting from their opponents. This 34-point loss also tied their largest margin of defeat under head coach Bill Self.
BYU, on the other hand, demonstrated remarkable teamwork with 15 assists on their first 15 field goals in the first half, further complemented by their 14 three-pointers against Kansas.
A pivotal moment occurred when Kansas held BYU scoreless for six minutes late in the first half, only for Mag and Saunders to land three-pointers shortly after, restoring a double-digit lead for the Cougars.
Notably, Kansas has not led in their last 80 minutes of gameplay.
Looking ahead, Kansas will host Oklahoma State this Saturday, while BYU is set to face Arizona.