TUCSON, Ariz. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Richie Saunders delivered a stellar performance with 23 points, clinching a thrilling 96-95 victory for BYU against the 19th-ranked Arizona. His crucial free throws with just 3.2 seconds remaining solidified the win.
This triumph marks the Cougars’ fourth consecutive victory, and notably, it is their second win in a row against a ranked team, following a dominant 91-57 win over No. 23 Kansas earlier in the week. Saunders showcased his shooting skills by completing 8 of 10 attempts from the field and sinking 3 of 4 shots from beyond the arc. BYU (19-8, 10-6 Big 12) excelled offensively, achieving a shooting percentage of 55.4% and landing 14 of 31 from three-point territory. Egor Demin also contributed significantly, finishing the game with 13 points and eight assists.
On the other side, Arizona (18-9, 12-4) saw a standout performance from Caleb Love, who scored 27 points, including two free throws with 13 seconds left that temporarily put the Wildcats ahead 95-94. Arizona had five players score in double digits and maintained an impressive shooting percentage of 54.2%, with 10 of 22 from three-point range.
BYU held a narrow lead of 47-44 at halftime, fueled by their 54.5% shooting. Saunders was instrumental in the first half, contributing 14 points. Arizona began the second half strong, hitting their first eight shots, yet they struggled to extend their lead beyond two points.
Key takeaways from the game highlight BYU’s success when making a minimum of 14 three-pointers, having achieved an unbeaten record of 8-0 under these circumstances this season. In contrast, Arizona showcased their teamwork by recording 23 assists on 32 field goals, marking the tenth occurrence this season of surpassing 20 assists.
One pivotal moment came when Saunders executed a fake on a 3-pointer from the corner before driving along the baseline for a reverse layup, increasing BYU’s lead to 94-90 with 41.8 seconds left on the clock.
Statistically, BYU capitalized on Arizona’s fouls, scoring 22 points off 14 turnovers, while the Wildcats managed 10 points from nine takeaways. The Cougars were notably more disciplined in the second half, committing only two turnovers during that period.
Looking ahead, BYU will travel to face Arizona State, while Arizona is set to host Utah on Wednesday night.
