BYU Basketball: Team Effort Secures Win Over NC State
BYU Basketball, NC State, San Diego, Fousseyni Traore…
BYU basketball didn’t let their overtime Thanksgiving loss to Ole Miss linger into Black Friday.
On Friday, the Cougars defeated NC State 72-61 to claim third place in the Rady Children’s Invitational held in San Diego.
The victory showcased a team-wide effort, with nine of BYU’s 10 players scoring. Richie Saunders led with 13 points, including a flawless 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
BYU dominated the boards, outrebounding NC State 45-32. Star guard Egor Demin contributed 11 rebounds, eight points, and four assists, while Keba Keita added nine rebounds.
The win marks BYU’s first against a Power Conference team under head coach Kevin Young. BYU improved to 6-1 for the 2024-25 season, while NC State dropped to 5-2, finishing fourth in the tournament.
This victory also marked the second straight season BYU has beaten NC State, following a win in Las Vegas last year.
First Half
15:28 — BYU started hot, with Dallin Hall hitting two early threes. The team sank four of its first five attempts from deep. BYU 14, NC State 6.
11:54 — Egor Demin’s left-handed dunk gave BYU a double-digit lead. Breon Pass of NC State responded with a second-chance three-pointer. BYU 19, NC State 11.
9:22 — Dawson Baker’s wraparound pass set up Fousseyni Traore for a dunk, while Trevin Knell added fastbreak points after a steal. BYU 23, NC State 14.
3:39 — Dawson Baker’s aggressive drives forced NC State to call timeout. Trey Stewart provided solid bench contributions, including an offensive rebound. BYU 33, NC State 18.
Halftime: BYU shot 60% from three-point range (6-10) in the first half, with seven different scorers, though freshman Kanon Catchings remained scoreless. BYU 38, NC State 27.
Second Half
14:56 — BYU’s starting lineup, featuring Hall, Demin, Saunders, Catchings, and Keita, opened the second half with a 14-2 run. Catchings scored his first points with two three-pointers. BYU 52, NC State 32.
11:40 — Nine BYU players had scored, with Mihailo Boskovic joining in by hitting a tough three-pointer. BYU 58, NC State 38.
9:38 — BYU’s passing stood out, as 16 of their 23 made field goals were assisted. BYU 62, NC State 41.
7:56 — BYU head coach Kevin Young called a timeout after NC State scored five quick points, capped by a Trey Parker fastbreak layup. BYU 65, NC State 46.
3:37 — BYU endured a five-minute drought, making just one of their previous 12 attempts. Keba Keita’s offensive rebounding created additional chances, but BYU struggled to convert. BYU 67, NC State 52.
Final: BYU 72, NC State 61.
Up Next
BYU travels to Providence, Rhode Island, to face the Providence Friars on Tuesday, December 3, in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle. Providence lost all three of their games in this week’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.