No. 24 BYU Holds Off Late Push From Utah State For 10th Straight Rivalry Win
Dec 8, 2021, 9:03 PM | Updated: 9:23 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 8: Te'Jon Lucas #3 of the BYU Cougars is pressured by Justin Bean #34 of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game December 8, 2021 at the J. Willard Marriott Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – No. 24 BYU basketball improved to an 8-1 record with an 82-71 victory in-state rival Utah State.
No. 24 @BYUMBB takes down @USUBasketball 82-71.#GoCougs #BYUHoops #AggiesALLTheWay
📷: @BYUphoto pic.twitter.com/CLFEeyexEm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 9, 2021
As you would expect from most BYU/Utah State games, it was an energy-filled building with excitement. A total of 15,669 fans packed into the Marriott Center, many of which from Logan to cheer for the Aggies in the upper deck.
But it was the home crowd that ended up with the final cheers as BYU held off a late second half push from the Aggies to secure the win.
The intensity of @BYUMBB vs. @USUBasketball is awesome.#AggiesALLTheWay #GoCougs
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/fpZb2F2NhJ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 9, 2021
Four BYU players scored in double-figures led by senior guard Alex Barcello who scored 17 points. Te’Jon Lucas and Fousseyni Traore each scored 14 and Trevin Knell knocked down 13 points, nine of which came from behind the three-point line.
BYU lights it up on offense in the first half
15:13: BYU 15, Utah State 6
BYU’s Trevin Knell jumped out to a hot start for the Cougars. Coming into the game, BYU was sub-300 in three-point shooting metrics. Knell got the shooting started going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, and 2-of-2 from three. Alex Barcello also knocked down a triple to give BYU an early 15-6 lead at the first break.
Trevin Knell is having one of those nights. Perfect 3-of-3 from the field before the first media timeout.
Players on the team will be quick to tell you he's the best shooter in the program. When his shot is falling he can fill it up. #BYU #BYUHoops #USUvsBYU @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 9, 2021
11:51: BYU 19, Utah State 17
Aggie big man Justin Bean arrived at 10 points and two rebounds at the second break. Bean showed off his versatility in his offensive game that he has worked on with a three-pointer from deep. BYU forward Gideon George made his return after a week off due to an illness. George lost 12 pounds due to the sickness he was battling.
Fousseyni Traore was the only BYU player to knock down a bucket from the field.
7:41: BYU 28, Utah State 17
BYU reeled off a 9-0 run to build their lead back to double digits.
Nice three-point bucket from Hunter Erickson. Only the second field goal make of his #BYU career.
Lineup changes have elevated his role in the program. Mark Pope applauded him this week for always being ready despite lack of minutes.#BYUHoops @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 9, 2021
3:39: BYU 38, Utah State 28
This has been a well-played basketball game with both teams shooting well from the floor. BYU hit five of their last six field goals, while the Aggies made their previous four.
End of the first half: BYU 45, Utah State 33
Shooting has been an issue for this BYU team, but it wasn’t in the first half as they knocked down 57% of their shots from the field and 46% from three. Trevin Knell led the way for BYU at the break with 13 points, while smooth operating guard Te’Jon Lucas poured in 11 points to go along with three assists.
Trevin Knell leads the way for #BYU in scoring at the half with 13 points.
Smooth Te'Jon Lucas with 11.
Gideon George with four rebounds.
Utah State's Justin Bean has nearly half of the Aggies 33 points with a game-high 16.#USUvsBYU #BYUHoops @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 9, 2021
Gideon George’s contributions were valuable as he pulled down four rebounds coming off the bench.
Utah State star Justin Bean accounted for 16 of the Aggies’ 33 points.
Utah State made a run as BYU went cold, but it wasn’t enough
12:27: BYU 61, Utah State 44
BYU’s frontcourt coming into the game was a big question mark, but as the Cougars built a lead, the retooled lineup played with more confidence as the game evolved. Gideon George passed up a three and put on a spin move on Bean.
Then one possession later, Fousseyni Traore had a strong, patient move on USU’s Trevin Dorius for a bucket. On the other end, Dorius had what appeared to be a foul out of frustration after the BYU freshman put the moves on the upperclassman.
BYU built up a game-high 17-point lead to open the second half.
7:29: BYU 69, Utah State 57
Utah State did not go down lightly. BYU built their lead up to 20 before the Aggies had a pair of buckets from Sean Bairstow to bring the deficit down to 12. BYU starting power forward Seneca Knight knocked down a three, then UMBC transfer Brandon Horvath buried a three of his own to send it back to a dozen.
3:30: BYU 69, Utah State 62
Horvath knocked down another three-pointer to bring BYU’s lead to single digits. The UMBC transfer who followed Coach Odom from the east coast to the Cache Valley later had an and-one opportunity, but he missed the free throw to leave BYU’s lead a three-possession game at seven points.
Media TO – Aggies within seven, 69-62, on a 16-3 run over the last 7:24 and holding the Cougars to 1 of their last 8. @bhorvath11 also in double figures with 11 pts. #AggiesAllTheWay
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 9, 2021
1:45: BYU 74, Utah State 67
Fousseyni Traore has returned to the form he was showing in the first handful of games. The freshman standout from Wasatch Academy reached 10 points and plays with a poise in the post not often seen from a freshman.
The Aggies had another missed free throw. You could probably give some credit to the BYU Roc that is once again filled to the rafters. The ROC’s season total on missed free throws for opponents is now at 48.
Aggie guard Rylan Jones, a transfer from Utah, tried to draw one of his signature charges but instead he was called for flopping. Alex Barcello knocked down the free throw to put BYU back up by 10. Horvath then hit another three on the other end to bring the deficit to seven.
COUGS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/D706OYfQ4b
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 9, 2021
End of regulation: BYU 82, Utah State 71
Next up for BYU & Utah State
BYU improves to 8-1 on the season and will be back in action this Saturday when they travel to the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota to face the Creighton Bluejays from the Big East Conference. Tip-off for BYU/Creighton is at 10 a.m. on FS1 and KSL NewsRadio.
Utah State falls to 6-3 overall on the year and is now on a two-game skid after falling to BYU. The Aggies will host New Orleans in the Spectrum this Saturday.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
