Kevin Young's Cougars have found their heartbeat in Big 12 play after crushing the Cincinnati Bearcats to the tune of 80-52 in the Marriott Center.
But watching the first half wouldn't lead anyone to expect a nearly 30-point drubbing from the Cougars, especially against a stingy Bearcat defense. BYU didn't even score 30 points before the halftime break, as they led the visitors 28-23 before retreating to the locker room.
The halftime lights went up, and some trivial entertainment took the stage to keep fans stimulated while both sides got a chance to regroup for another 20 minute bout.
Up stepped a fan for the half-court shot challenge, dressed all in black with the hope of snagging $10,000 if one of her attempts were to drop through the nylon. Fans leaned back into their seats as they knew the outrageous odds of finding the target likely warranted little attention.
Watching reels with the left eye and casually glimpsing the court with the right, the contestant launched a halfcourt shot that--WHOA. That nearly went in! Before a chance to process the situation, another shot was in the air, and...
$10,000 half court shot winner at tonight’s BYU basketball game. 💰 pic.twitter.com/7svIZfRazX
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 26, 2025
...Splash!
An impending tsunami of BYU momentum must be attributed--at least in part--to this fan's triumph over impossible odds. How else could you explain a team scoring under 30 points in the first half before clicking on the stove for 52 in the second?
I mean, you can always thank Richie Saunders.
BYU's omnipresent wing caught fire for the Cougars as he went 5-for-6 from the 3-point arc. The energizer for this BYU squad, Saunders is the drumbeat at the stern of the rowboat. Each thud bestows the strength for his partners to row in rhythm, and his energy was contagious.
Even Egor Demin was above 50% from 3-point land for the first time in eons, hitting 3-of-5 attempts from long range to pair with 7 more assists. Demin has finally shifted gears since his emergence against Colorado and stuffed the stat sheet as a lottery pick should, finishing with 15 points.
Kanon Catchings and Trevin Knell were also launching fire from their fingertips, scoring on 75% and 40% of their long-range attempts in this one to lift BYU's average to 62.5% from beyond the arc. Deadly.
With this win, BYU climbs back to .500 in Big 12 play and tied for 7th in the league standings. Plenty of season remains for these Cougars, and it seems they're finally alive.