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Saunders scores 26, No. 25 BYU wins its fifth straight by beating Arizona State 91-81

AP
Feb 26, 2025

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Richie Saunders scored 26 points, Trevin Knell added 18 and No. 25 BYU beat short-handed Arizona State 91-81 on Wednesday night to extend its winning streak to five games.

BYU (20-8, 11-6 Big 12) never trailed after the first few minutes, making 10 3-pointers in the first half and 17 in the game. Saunders shot 10 of 19 from the field, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Arizona State cut the deficit to 78-69 with 5:34 remaining, but BYU responded with back-to-back 3-pointers by Dallin Hall and Saunders.

The Sun Devils (13-15, 4-13) have lost seven of their past eight. Basheer Jihad led Arizona State with 19 points, while Joson Sanon and Trevor Best had 18.

Saunders scored 15 points before the break, hitting five 3-pointers to give the Cougars a 47-37 halftime advantage.

The Sun Devils were playing without starters Alston Mason (illness) and Jayden Quaintance (leg). Leading scorer BJ Freeman was dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team over the weekend.

Arizona State used just seven players against the Cougars. Jihad and Sanon played all 40 minutes.

BYU: The Cougars continued their impressive stretch run that's allowed them to climb into the top half of the Big 12 standings. First-year coach Kevin Young - who was an assistant for the Phoenix Suns team that went to the NBA Finals in 2021 - has a lot of momentum.

Arizona State: The scrappy Sun Devils are still playing hard for coach Bobby Hurley, whose job security could be in question after the season.

BYU hit its first five 3-pointers, taking a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

BYU shot better from 3-point range (50%) than it did on free throws (40%).

BYU hosts West Virginia on Saturday. Arizona State is at Utah on Saturday.

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1st Half
BYU
Cougars
47
ASU
Sun Devils
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Keba Keita vs. Shawn Phillips Jr. (Cougars gains possession)
19:43		Richie Saunders misses two point layup
19:41		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
19:25		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
19:23		Keba Keita defensive rebound
19:10	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	3-0
18:44		Basheer Jihad misses three point jump shot
18:42		Keba Keita defensive rebound
18:36		Egor Demin turnover (bad pass)
18:25	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point jump shot (Joson Sanon assists)	3-2
18:08		Richie Saunders misses two point layup
18:06		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
18:02	+3	Amier Ali makes three point jump shot (Joson Sanon assists)	3-5
17:47	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	6-5
17:28	+2	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes two point dunk (Adam Miller assists)	6-7
17:12	+2	Keba Keita makes two point alley-oop dunk (Trevin Knell assists)	8-7
16:49		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
16:47		Cougars defensive rebound
16:36	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Trevin Knell assists)	11-7
16:20		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
16:18		Egor Demin defensive rebound
15:53	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Fousseyni Traore assists)	14-7
15:32	+2	Amier Ali makes two point jump shot (Shawn Phillips Jr. assists)	14-9
15:16	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	17-9
15:01	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point layup	17-11
14:48		TV timeout
14:42	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup (Trevin Knell assists)	19-11
14:28		Basheer Jihad misses three point jump shot
14:26		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
14:15	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup (Trevin Knell assists)	21-11
13:57	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Amier Ali assists)	21-14
13:45		Egor Demin misses two point layup
13:43		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
13:33		Shawn Phillips Jr. turnover (bad pass)
13:13		Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
13:11		Amier Ali defensive rebound
12:51	+3	Basheer Jihad makes three point jump shot	21-17
12:41		Dawson Baker turnover (lost ball) (Basheer Jihad steals)
12:23		Amier Ali misses three point jump shot
12:21		Dawson Baker defensive rebound
12:14		Kanon Catchings misses three point jump shot
12:12		Sun Devils defensive rebound
12:01		Richie Saunders personal foul
12:00		Joson Sanon misses two point layup
11:58		Kanon Catchings defensive rebound
11:53		Adam Miller personal foul
11:53		TV timeout
11:35	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup	23-17
11:20		Joson Sanon turnover (lost ball) (Trey Stewart steals)
11:18		Joson Sanon personal foul
11:00		Shawn Phillips Jr. blocks Dallin Hall's two point layup
10:58		Fousseyni Traore offensive rebound
10:58		Bobby Hurley shooting foul (Fousseyni Traore draws the foul)
10:58	+1	Fousseyni Traore makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-17
10:58	+1	Fousseyni Traore makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-17
10:47		Dallin Hall blocks Shawn Phillips Jr.'s two point layup
10:47		Dawson Baker defensive rebound
10:36		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
10:34		Amier Ali defensive rebound
10:33		Trey Stewart personal foul
10:10	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point layup	25-19
10:10		Fousseyni Traore shooting foul (Basheer Jihad draws the foul)
10:10	+1	Basheer Jihad makes regular free throw 1 of 1	25-20
9:59		Kanon Catchings misses three point jump shot
9:57		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
9:50	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point jump shot	25-22
9:29		Shawn Phillips Jr. personal foul
9:15	+2	Dallin Hall makes two point jump shot	27-22
8:58		Joson Sanon turnover (lost ball) (Kanon Catchings steals)
8:46		Trey Stewart misses three point jump shot
8:44		Amier Ali defensive rebound
8:29		Basheer Jihad misses three point jump shot
8:27		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
8:19		Bobby Hurley technical foul
8:19		Dawson Baker misses technical free throw 1 of 2
8:19	+1	Dawson Baker makes technical free throw 2 of 2	28-22
8:14		Trevin Knell turnover (bad pass) (Trevor Best steals)
8:11		Trevin Knell shooting foul (Trevor Best draws the foul)
8:11	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-23
8:11	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-24
7:57		Keba Keita offensive foul
7:57		Keba Keita turnover (offensive foul)
7:57		TV timeout
7:36		Joson Sanon misses two point layup
7:34		Joson Sanon offensive rebound
7:16		Trevor Best turnover (bad pass)
7:08		Trevin Knell misses three point jump shot
7:06		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
6:54		Amier Ali turnover (bad pass) (Egor Demin steals)
6:48	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	31-24
6:25		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses two point jump shot
6:23		Shawn Phillips Jr. offensive rebound
6:20		Keba Keita shooting foul (Shawn Phillips Jr. draws the foul)
6:20	+1	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-25
6:20		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:20		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
6:05		Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
6:03		Sun Devils defensive rebound
5:53		Basheer Jihad misses three point jump shot
5:51		Trevin Knell defensive rebound
5:43	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	34-25
5:41		Sun Devils 30 second timeout
5:34		Dallin Hall shooting foul (Trevor Best draws the foul)
5:34	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-26
5:34	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-27
5:18	+2	Dallin Hall makes two point layup	36-27
4:54		Basheer Jihad misses two point jump shot
4:52		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
4:44		Egor Demin misses two point layup
4:42		Basheer Jihad defensive rebound
4:31		Amier Ali misses two point layup
4:29		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
4:23		Egor Demin misses two point layup
4:21		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
4:14		Dallin Hall shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
4:14		Joson Sanon misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:14	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-28
4:04	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Dawson Baker assists)	39-28
3:51		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
3:49		Dawson Baker defensive rebound
3:42		Mihailo Boskovic misses three point jump shot
3:40		Cougars offensive rebound
3:38		TV timeout
3:28		Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
3:26		Amier Ali defensive rebound
3:06	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point jump shot	39-30
2:49	+3	Dawson Baker makes three point jump shot	42-30
2:29		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
2:27		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
2:15		Dawson Baker misses three point jump shot
2:13		Basheer Jihad defensive rebound
2:03		Mihailo Boskovic personal foul
2:03	+1	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-31
2:03		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:03		Mawot Mag defensive rebound
1:51		Dawson Baker misses three point jump shot
1:49		Amier Ali defensive rebound
1:38	+3	Trevor Best makes three point jump shot	42-34
1:14	+2	Fousseyni Traore makes two point layup (Dallin Hall assists)	44-34
0:59		Mawot Mag personal foul (Basheer Jihad draws the foul)
0:59	+1	Basheer Jihad makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-35
0:59	+1	Basheer Jihad makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-36
0:33	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	47-36
0:12		Egor Demin shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
0:12		Joson Sanon misses regular free throw 1 of 3
0:12	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 2 of 3	47-37
0:12		Joson Sanon misses regular free throw 3 of 3
0:12		Egor Demin defensive rebound
0:00		Kanon Catchings misses three point jump shot
0:00		Sun Devils defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
BYU
Cougars
44
ASU
Sun Devils
44

Time		Play	Score
19:45		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses two point hook shot
19:43		Keba Keita defensive rebound
19:25	+2	Egor Demin makes two point layup	49-37
19:08	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot	49-40
18:58		Richie Saunders misses two point layup
18:56		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
18:49		Basheer Jihad misses three point jump shot
18:47		Richie Saunders defensive rebound
18:32		Mawot Mag misses two point jump shot
18:30		Keba Keita offensive rebound
18:27	+2	Keba Keita makes two point layup	51-40
18:04	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point jump shot (Basheer Jihad assists)	51-42
17:50		Egor Demin misses two point jump shot
17:48		Amier Ali defensive rebound
17:43		Joson Sanon turnover (lost ball) (Richie Saunders steals)
17:37	+2	Keba Keita makes two point dunk (Egor Demin assists)	53-42
17:13		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses two point hook shot
17:11		Egor Demin defensive rebound
16:49	+2	Keba Keita makes two point dunk (Egor Demin assists)	55-42
16:26		Adam Miller turnover (traveling)
16:16	+3	Mawot Mag makes three point jump shot (Richie Saunders assists)	58-42
16:16		Trevin Knell technical foul
16:16		Trevin Knell turnover
16:16		Adam Miller technical foul
16:16		Adam Miller turnover
16:01	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Basheer Jihad assists)	58-45
15:50		Richie Saunders misses two point layup
15:48		Cougars offensive rebound
15:48		TV timeout
15:37		Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
15:35		Sun Devils defensive rebound
15:09		Basheer Jihad misses two point jump shot
15:07		Keba Keita defensive rebound
14:51		Egor Demin turnover (bad pass) (Adam Miller steals)
14:46	+2	Adam Miller makes two point layup	58-47
14:34	+2	Trevin Knell makes two point layup	60-47
14:14		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
14:12		Trevin Knell defensive rebound
14:04		Egor Demin turnover (bad pass)
13:49	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point jump shot	60-49
13:41	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot	63-49
13:11		Joson Sanon misses two point jump shot
13:09		Shawn Phillips Jr. offensive rebound
13:09		Mawot Mag personal foul
12:53	+2	Trevor Best makes two point jump shot (Joson Sanon assists)	63-51
12:29	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point jump shot	65-51
12:29		Joson Sanon shooting foul (Richie Saunders draws the foul)
12:29		Richie Saunders misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:29		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
12:15		Fousseyni Traore personal foul
12:11		Basheer Jihad turnover (lost ball) (Richie Saunders steals)
12:06	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point layup	67-51
11:49	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point layup (Trevor Best assists)	67-53
11:37		Shawn Phillips Jr. blocks Fousseyni Traore's two point jump shot
11:35		Dallin Hall offensive rebound
11:21		Joson Sanon personal foul
11:21		TV timeout
11:16		Richie Saunders misses three point jump shot
11:14		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
10:53	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point layup	67-55
10:53		Richie Saunders shooting foul (Basheer Jihad draws the foul)
10:53	+1	Basheer Jihad makes regular free throw 1 of 1	67-56
10:39		Trey Stewart misses three point jump shot
10:37		Cougars offensive rebound
10:31	+3	Trevin Knell makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	70-56
10:09		Amier Ali misses two point layup
10:07		Trevin Knell defensive rebound
9:57		Trevor Best shooting foul (Trevin Knell draws the foul)
9:57		Trevin Knell misses regular free throw 1 of 3
9:57		Trevin Knell misses regular free throw 2 of 3
9:57	+1	Trevin Knell makes regular free throw 3 of 3	71-56
9:40		Trevor Best misses two point jump shot
9:38		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
9:29		Trevor Best flagrant 1 (Dallin Hall draws the foul)
9:29		Dallin Hall misses flagrant free throw 1 of 2
9:29	+1	Dallin Hall makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2	72-56
9:27		Dallin Hall turnover (bad pass) (Trevor Best steals)
9:22	+2	Trevor Best makes two point jump shot	72-58
9:10		Trevor Best shooting foul (Trey Stewart draws the foul)
9:10		Trey Stewart misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:10	+1	Trey Stewart makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-58
8:58	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point jump shot (Amier Ali assists)	73-60
8:40		Trevin Knell offensive foul
8:40		Trevin Knell turnover (offensive foul)
8:20		Kanon Catchings personal foul
8:11		Fousseyni Traore shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
8:11	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-61
8:11	+1	Joson Sanon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-62
7:49	+3	Dawson Baker makes three point jump shot	76-62
7:29		Kanon Catchings personal foul (Shawn Phillips Jr. draws the foul)
7:29		TV timeout
7:29	+1	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-63
7:29	+1	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-64
7:18		Shawn Phillips Jr. personal foul (Egor Demin draws the foul)
7:18		Egor Demin misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:18		Basheer Jihad defensive rebound
6:56		Basheer Jihad misses two point layup
6:54		Egor Demin defensive rebound
6:53		Egor Demin turnover (bad pass)
6:42	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point layup	76-66
6:20	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point jump shot (Egor Demin assists)	78-66
5:59		Trevor Best misses three point jump shot
5:57		Keba Keita defensive rebound
5:42		Dawson Baker turnover (kicked ball violation)
5:28	+3	Amier Ali makes three point jump shot (Trevor Best assists)	78-69
5:11	+3	Dallin Hall makes three point jump shot	81-69
4:41	+2	Trevor Best makes two point jump shot	81-71
4:25	+3	Richie Saunders makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	84-71
4:15		Sun Devils 30 second timeout
4:15		TV timeout
4:05		Joson Sanon misses two point jump shot
4:03		Keba Keita defensive rebound
3:49		Shawn Phillips Jr. personal foul (Keba Keita draws the foul)
3:49		TV timeout
3:49		Keba Keita misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:49		Sun Devils defensive rebound
3:37	+2	Joson Sanon makes two point layup	84-73
3:37		Mawot Mag shooting foul (Joson Sanon draws the foul)
3:37		Joson Sanon misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:37		Basheer Jihad offensive rebound
3:32		Sun Devils 30 second timeout
3:27		Amier Ali misses three point jump shot
3:25		Mawot Mag defensive rebound
3:08	+2	Dallin Hall makes two point layup	86-73
2:53		Joson Sanon misses three point jump shot
2:51		Fousseyni Traore defensive rebound
2:37		Trevor Best personal foul (Dallin Hall draws the foul)
2:37		Dallin Hall misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:37		Sun Devils defensive rebound
2:36		Fousseyni Traore personal foul (Shawn Phillips Jr. draws the foul)
2:36		Shawn Phillips Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:36	+1	Shawn Phillips Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	86-74
2:29		Cougars 30 second timeout
2:24	+2	Richie Saunders makes two point layup (Egor Demin assists)	88-74
2:02		Trevor Best misses two point jump shot
2:00		Dallin Hall defensive rebound
1:36	+3	Mawot Mag makes three point jump shot (Dallin Hall assists)	91-74
1:14	+2	Basheer Jihad makes two point jump shot	91-76
1:14		Sun Devils 60 second timeout
0:48		Dallin Hall misses three point jump shot
0:46		Shawn Phillips Jr. defensive rebound
0:37		Dawson Baker shooting foul (Trevor Best draws the foul)
0:37	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 1 of 2	91-77
0:37	+1	Trevor Best makes regular free throw 2 of 2	91-78
0:11		Egor Demin misses three point jump shot
0:09		Joson Sanon defensive rebound
0:04	+3	Trevor Best makes three point jump shot (Joson Sanon assists)	91-81
0:00		End of period

+ 3

Trevor Best makes three point jump shot (Joson Sanon assists)