Conor McGregor, 30 NBA scouts, and multiple NBA GMs were in the Marriott Center Tuesday night to watch the Cougars take on the Baylor Bears in a thrilling Big 12 contest. A year or two ago, that sentence did not seem even remotely possible, but this is the reality that we now live in. And what a show did the two teams put on for their top brass audience.
Catchings vs. Edgecombe
It took an extra five minutes, but BYU eventually walked away with a 93-89 overtime win over Baylor, moving them to 14-6 on the season and 5-4 in the conference. The star of the night was no doubt BYU’s Kanon Catchings. The freshman finished with 23 points on absolutely perfect shooting, going 8-8 from the field, 4-4 from 3, and 3-3 from the line. Those numbers include the most made field goals without a miss as a freshman in BYU history. In fact, it’s only the first time this century a freshman in the entire country has achieved those numbers without a miss.
But Catchings wasn’t the only freshman to impress. Baylor star and future lottery pick V.J. Edgecombe kept the Bears alive, going for 28 points including 6-8 shooting from 3. It was a tremendous duel between the two, one of the best the Marriott Center has seen in a long time.
Both teams shot it well throughout the game, which was foreshadowed when Trevin Knell hit a 3 pointer 15 seconds into the game, and was answered by Edgecombe on the very next possession. A basket from Egor Demin and free throws from Richie Saunders gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead that they would not relinquish for the remaining 41 minutes. But it was rarely that comfortable.
From that point, Catchings scored a quick nine points from beyond the arc, while the rest of the cast pitched in to grow BYU’s lead to a 13 point margin with five minutes to go in the half. Serving as more than just a shooter, the highlight of the half may have been when Catchings hustled halfway across the floor to tip an offensive rebound to BYU, before relocating to the corner and nailing his shot. While a relatively simple play, the freshman demonstrated the heart of a senior mixed with the talent of a future draft pick at the same time, in the same play, giving BYU its initial boost of momentum in the game.
But the Bears hung around. Josh Ojianwuna kept them alive down low and on the glass, while the rest of the team got the ball moving offensively and took turns knocking down 3s to trim the lead to eight points going into the break.
BYU punched right back coming out of the half though. Just over a minute in, Richie Saunders drove to the rim for a layup, immediately stole the inbound, and then kicked it to Demin who hit a stepback 3 that sent the Marriott Center into a frenzy.
It was just enough to wake up Baylor, who immediately got back within five points and didn’t let the lead grow from there. The Catchings-Edgecombe duel continued with both players hitting plenty of stepback shots and highlight finishes to try and pace their teams to a victory. In the closing minutes, however, BYU head coach Kevin Young opted for defense and experience, substituting Catchings for Mawot Mag and Dallin Hall.
The gamble didn’t initially pay off. Baylor’s Robert Wright III put the team on his back, scoring 14 points over the final five minutes, including a pair of free throws with four seconds left, to pull the Bears even after trailing all game.
But the overtime period was all Cougars. Trevin Knell stole the opening tip for a layup three seconds in, while a Dallin Hall pull-up 3 gave the Cougars a five point lead. Edgecombe and Wright would get Baylor closer, but BYU got the stops they needed and hit the free throws they haven’t always hit in the past to close out the win.
Key Cougar Performances
It's not easy to overshadow Conor McGregor, but Catchings (along with Edgecombe) was truly brilliant in his performance. Despite facing a reduction in minutes in recent weeks, the freshman remained poised and confident. His shot selection was the best it has been all season, and he made the hustle/smart plays that he needed to as well.
Elsewhere for the Cougars, Saunders and Demin were cold from outside, but made plenty of plays when they drove to the rim. Saunders in particular looked like a running back tucking the ball away as he burst through multiple defenders for a score. He finished with 17 points, while Demin had 15 points and 6 assists.
On the defensive end, Mawot Mag was a major difference maker. His 32 minutes in this one show he has officially transitioned from “fun, defensive stopper” to “indispensable glue guy” status. While BYU has struggled to finish games in the past, Mag was a big part in closing this one out, and Kevin Young may have found a lineup or two that he liked as the Cougars were able to win one in the clutch for the first time this season.
The Cougs certainly needed this game. They finally notched their first “Quad 1” win of the season, and are slowly moving up the bubble towards an NCAA Tournament appearance. With Arizona, Kansas, and more on the horizon, BYU gained some much needed momentum, and may have awoken a powerful freshman force in the process.