BYU basketball: Cougars defeat Oklahoma State, snap losing streak

BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) lays the ball up past Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Marchelus Avery (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

BYU is back in the win column.

The Cougars snapped their three-game losing skid by defeating Oklahoma State 85-69 Tuesday night at the Marriott Center, moving to 11-5 on the season and 2-3 against Big 12 foes.

3 takeaways

BYU allowed the game to become far too complicated. The Cougars opened the night by enjoying arguably their best half of Big 12 play thus far, holding a 20-point advantage at intermission while having led by 27 at one point. It seemed as if the recent struggles for Kevin Young’s squad were on their way out the door.

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Not so fast.

BYU faltered early in the second half, allowing a 22-5 Oklahoma State scoring run to cut the Cougars’ lead to just three points. In what should have been a drama-free blowout, BYU was forced to scrap its way back to a 16-point win rather than have the chance to rest some of its key rotation players and find minutes for others.

Typical starter Kanon Catchings — who logged nine minutes at TCU last weekend — was brought off the bench for another limited outing of just seven minutes on the floor.

Count him as one who could have benefitted from some late playing time to get back into a groove, especially with a rivalry clash at Utah looming ahead on Saturday.

1 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) takes a shot against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 2 of 33 BYU Cougars players huddle before an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 3 of 33 BYU Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) protests Oklahoma’s possession as he sits back-to-back with Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Robert Jennings II (25) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 4 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) tries to rebound the ball against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 5 of 33 BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks with his players before an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 6 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) celebrates a teammate’s 3-pointer against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 7 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Abou Ousmane (33) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 8 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Khalil Brantley (5) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 9 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) lays the ball up while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Abou Ousmane (33) and forward Robert Jennings II (25) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 10 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) drives the ball toward the basket after evading Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jamyron Keller (14) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 11 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Kanon Catchings (6) listens in as he and his teammates huddle during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 12 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) prepares to enter the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 13 of 33 Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Steve Lutz calls out to his players during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the BYU Cougars held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 14 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Kanon Catchings (6) lines up a shot against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 15 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) pulls up for a shot while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Bryce Thompson (1) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 16 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Kanon Catchings (6) holds his follow-through on his shot while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Robert Jennings II (25) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 17 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) passes the ball inbounds as he goes out of bounds against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 18 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) and guard Dallin Hall (30) celebrate after Knell earned a trip to the line to take free throws against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 19 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) lays the ball up while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Bryce Thompson (1) and forward Marchelus Avery (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 20 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) blocks a shot from Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Arturo Dean (2) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 21 of 33 BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (13) lays the ball up past Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Bryce Thompson (1) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 22 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) controls the ball while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jamyron Keller (14) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 23 of 33 BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young watches a shot go up against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 24 of 33 BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks with guard Egor Demin (3) during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 25 of 33 BYU Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) breaks up a shot from Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Robert Jennings II (25) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 26 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) huddles with his teammates during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 27 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) talks with forward Kanon Catchings (6) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 28 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) celebrates a play from guard Egor Demin (3) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 29 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) reacts after receiving a flagrant foul against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 30 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) guards Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Arturo Dean (2) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 31 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) and the rest of the bench celebrate a 3-pointer against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 32 of 33 BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) lays the ball up past Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Marchelus Avery (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 33 of 33 BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) shoots the ball while guarded by Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jamyron Keller (14) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

The Cougars shot 51.9% from the field and 42.9% from deep, dishing out 18 assists while continuing their turnover woes with 14 giveaways.

The true stat of the night: 38 total fouls called by the referees. The zebras were out and about at the Marriott Center.

An aggressive Egor Demin came alive in the second half. BYU’s slumping freshman was held scoreless for the first 30 minutes of play, only to acquire a noticeable fire down the stretch and score 10 points in a four-minute span.

Demin finished the night with eight assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks, but perhaps most importantly, a renewed sense of confidence.

He even hit a 3-pointer — a rarity during his current 2 for 27 stretch from long distance.

The Cougars are a much more formidable squad when Demin is at his best, and they’ll need such performances to continue if they want to keep winning Big 12 contests and slip into the NCAA Tournament field in March.

Dallin Hall and his fellow veterans carried much of the load. With Oklahoma State charging back in the second half and cutting the deficit to three points, Hall drilled a 3-pointer with 13:11 remaining to give the Cougars a bit of breathing room.

Fousseyni Traore followed with a layup, with Hall adding another three in transition 60 seconds later.

This was the true turning point of the game. Things could have gone either way once the Cowboys trailed by three, only for two of BYU’s most experienced players to step up and take back control of the contest.

Hall posted a season-high 14 points on a perfect 4 for 4 shooting from the field and three assists. Traore recorded seven points, seven rebounds and three dimes, Trevin Knell and Richie Saunders combined for 30 points and Keba Keita provided a near double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

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