BYU Shows Grit In Bounce-Back Win Over Oklahoma State
Jan 14, 2025, 9:26 PM
PROVO, Utah – BYU head coach Kevin Young wanted to see “grit” from his team against Oklahoma State.
He got that on Tuesday night as BYU ended a three-game losing streak and got back in the win column.
Final: BYU 85, Oklahoma State 69
Cougars end a three-game losing streak in Big 12 play to improve to 2-3
Five BYU players scored in double figures led by Trevin Knell with 18. pic.twitter.com/4TCzMRwOaj
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 15, 2025
BYU defeated Oklahoma State 85-69 at the Marriott Center in front of 16,457 fans.
Earlier in the week, Young’s message to show more grit resonated with his team in the first half as BYU played one of its best halves of the season, jumping out to a 20-point halftime lead.
Young retooled the starting lineup for the second time in as many games. Rutgers transfer Mawot Mag earned his second start of the season, stepping in for Kanon Catchings.
However, in the second half, they were tested as Oklahoma State, behind Jamyron Keller, trimmed BYU’s lead down to three.
The grit shined through as guards Dallin Hall and Egor Demin helped BYU pull away from the upset-minded Cowboys.
Five BYU players finished in double-figures scoring led by Trevin Knell, who scored 18. Egor Demin finished with 10 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
Dallin Hall had 14 points on four shots (4-4) from the field.
BYU improves to 2-3 in Big 12 play and 11-5 overall on the season.
Oklahoma State falls to 1-4 in the league and 9-7 overall.
First Half
14:56 – It wasn’t long before Kevin Young turned to a veteran lineup. At the 16:24 mark, Young subbed out Egor Demin for Dallin Hall and Keba Keita for Fousseyni Traore. BYU was only up 4-3 when the substitution happened. From there, the veteran lineup began settling in. BYU 10, Oklahoma State 6.
11:46 – BYU jumped out to a 10-0 run and didn’t let Oklahoma State score a field goal in the 3:35 of game action. Kanon Catchings checked into the game off the bench with 13:36 left in the first half. BYU 17, OK State 7.
11:41 – Kanon Catchings was called for a flagrant foul out of the timeout after Oklahoma State stole the inbounds pass. Robert Jennings made one of two free throws. Moments later, Catchings was called for another foul, bringing him up to three fouls, and then was subbed out. BYU 17, OK State 8.
7:30 – Life is easier when knocking down shots. BYU hit four of its first nine three-point attempts. Trevin Knell buried a shot from beyond the arc, then a few minutes later, Dallin Hall hit a three that forced Steve Lutz into calling a timeout. Oklahoma State was 2-of-7 from three. BYU 29, OK State 15.
3:49 – BYU held Oklahoma State to a scoring drought for 4:46. Then Trevin Knell continued to scorch the nets, jumping out to 13 points, which included three made 3-pointers. BYU 39, OK State 15.
2:08 – Kevin Young burned a timeout after Oklahoma State put together a 9-0 run in one minute of game action. Connor Daw scored five of those points for Oklahoma State. BYU 42, OK State 24.
Halftime: BYU 46, Oklahoma State 26
BYU finished the half shooting 60% from the field, while Oklahoma State only knocked down 26% of their shots. It’s a make-shot sport sometimes. BYU was due for a slump-busting performance on the offensive end.
Trevin Knell led all scorers with 13 points.
Egor Demin missed all three of his field goal attempts but had five assists and only two turnovers.
BYU had eight turnovers as a team, the same number as Oklahoma State. The Cougars outscored the Pokes in points off turnovers 11-5 in the first half.
Second Half
15:34 – Oklahoma State didn’t roll over as they came out strong, outscoring BYU 15-5 in the first four minutes of the second half. Egor Demin tried to make a behind-the-back pass that went out of bounds, resulting in Kevin Young checking in at Dallin Hall. Then, a few possessions later, Hall had an alley-oop attempt for Keba Keita, which was a miscommunication and resulted in a turnover.
OK State’s Jamyron Keller, who had a career-high 22 points against BYU last year, scored nine points to lead the second-half push. BYU 51, Oklahoma State 41.
11:30 – BYU let its 20-point halftime lead get down to three after Bryce Thompson knocked down a pair of free throws.
The Pokes were getting downhill and attacking the rim, knocking down eight of their 10 layups to open the second half.
But that led to Dallin Hall taking over.
Maybe blowing that lead will become a defining point of the season.
The energy and emotion have really cranked up.
Hall and Demin are really fired up after making big plays to keep #BYU in front.
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) January 15, 2025
Hall knocked down a three to give BYU a two-possession lead. Egor Demin took the ball to the rim, but it rolled off, but Fousseyni Traore was there to clean it up. After another Oklahoma State bucket, Dallin Hall countered with another three from close to the same spot as the one a few possessions earlier. BYU 59, OK State 50.
7:44 – Egor Demin started to find his groove offensively, and it all started because of his effort on the defensive end. Demin picked off the passing lane of Oklahoma State for a steal that led to a fastbreak. Then, two possessions later, he knocked down only his second three-pointer in Big 12 play. BYU 71, OK State 57.
Egor Demin for three! That was only his second three of Big 12 play.
Demin is coming alive on the offensive end in this second half against Oklahoma State.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 15, 2025
1:59 – Trevin Knell was called for a flagrant one foul. The two teams were getting chippy and had to be separated near the Oklahoma State bench. Bryce Thompson then hit a pair of free throws. BYU 80, OK State 69.
1:44 – Oklahoma State’s Robert Jennings was called for a flagrant foul. It was the third flagrant foul between the two teams in the game. Keba Keita split the two free throws. BYU 81, OK State 69.
Up Next for BYU Basketball
BYU goes North to take on rival Utah on Saturday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. (MST) on ESPN+ and KSL NewsRadio.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
