Faced with a crucial contest against the top team in the nation?

No challenge is too great for Kevin Young’s BYU Cougars.

In an impressive display, BYU snapped Kansas State’s six-game winning streak, securing an 80-65 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday night at the Marriott Center.

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With this victory, the Cougars improve to 17-8 for the season and 8-6 in Big 12 competition.

3 Key Takeaways

BYU delivered arguably its strongest first half of the season. Prior to this match, Kansas State was averaging an impressive 77.1 points over its last six outings.

However, at halftime in Provo, the Wildcats were limited to just 22 points.

The Cougars held a commanding 40-22 lead at the break, limiting Kansas State to a mere 27.1% shooting while showcasing solid defense and providing 11 assists.

Despite a lack of success from long range, BYU demonstrated one of its most cohesive team performances to date under Young.

Although the Wildcats found their rhythm in the second half, the Cougars maintained control, handing Kansas State its first defeat since January 22.

The Cougars’ big men dominated. Keba Keita and Fousseyni Traore teamed up for 20 points and 15 rebounds, with Keita narrowly missing out on his first double-double in conference play.

Keita also achieved a career-high five blocks—the most for a Cougar since Matt Haarms accomplished it in 2021—showcasing his dominant performance at BYU.

Traore proved impactful in just 12 minutes, and the Cougars outscored their opponents by 11 points when he was on the court. Remarkably, he converted five of six free throws, a commendable feat for a player of his size.

In a surprising twist, the lead in rebounds did not go to either Traore or Keita; instead, Richie Saunders recorded a personal-best 14 rebounds, five of which were offensive boards.

Despite struggles from beyond the arc, BYU found success. The Cougars managed to hit only six 3-pointers—one of their lowest totals this season—but still posted a field goal percentage of 49.1% and tallied 18 assists.

Ten different players contributed to the scoring, with Saunders leading the team with 17 points and Dallin Hall adding 16.

Egor Demin showcased his playmaking skills with eight assists against just two turnovers, aiding BYU in scoring 41 points in the paint and maintaining an average of 1.27 points per possession.

While the Cougars have often leaned on the three-point shot this season, the game against Kansas State illustrated their ability to adapt and innovate when facing tough opponents.