3 takeaways from No. 25 BYU’s win over West Virginia

BYU guard Egor Demin (3) is guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) as Demin drives the ball around a screen set by center Keba Keita (13) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

BYU keeps stacking wins.

The Cougars came alive late for a 77-56 win over West Virginia Saturday at the Marriott Center, earning their sixth consecutive victory.

BYU is now 21-8 on the season and 12-6 in Big 12 play.

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3 takeaways

BYU overcame a slow, ugly start. For much of the first half, the Cougars didn’t appear anything close to the same team that had scored 90 points in each of their past three games.

BYU didn’t make a single 3-pointer and was held to just four such shot attempts before halftime — a far cry from its typical offensive attack.

Once the Cougars woke up, however, they were off to the races.

BYU finished the first half on a 10-0 run to lead 25-19 and all but buried the Mountaineers by scoring another eight unanswered points out of halftime.

Kevin Young’s squad shot 60.6% from the field and 45.5% from behind the arc in the second half, committing just two turnovers en route to the 21-point victory. The Cougars’ 77 points were the most allowed by West Virginia against a Big 12 team all season.

Egor Demin was a driving force behind the late surge, providing 14 late points on 4 of 6 shooting with two made triples.

1 of 36 BYU forward Mawot Mag (0) smiles after the West Virginia Mountaineers lost possession of the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 2 of 36 A pregame video plays before an NCAA men’s basketball game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 3 of 36 The starting lineups are announced before an NCAA men’s basketball game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 4 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, cheers with students at halftime during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 5 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, holds a sign with students at halftime during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 6 of 36 The Cougarettes perform during an NCAA men’s basketball game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 7 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, holds a sign with students at halftime during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 8 of 36 BYU center Fousseyni Traore (45) goes to the basket while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers center Eduardo Andre (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 9 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, gestures after a play during an NCAA men’s basketball game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 10 of 36 BYU guard Dallin Hall (30) celebrates after center Fousseyni Traore (45) scored a basket despite a West Virginia Mountaineers foul and earned a trip to the line to take foul shots during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 11 of 36 BYU center Fousseyni Traore (45) goes up for a shot while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers center Eduardo Andre (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 12 of 36 BYU guard Dawson Baker (25) holds his follow-through on his shot during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 13 of 36 BYU guard Egor Demin (3) takes and makes a three-pointer while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard KJ Tenner (3) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 14 of 36 BYU center Fousseyni Traore (45) has his shot blocked by West Virginia Mountaineers forward Amani Hansberry (13) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 15 of 36 BYU guard Dallin Hall (30) takes and makes a three-pointer while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jonathan Powell (11) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 16 of 36 BYU guard Trey Stewart (1) celebrates his three-pointer against the West Virginia Mountaineers during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 17 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, high-fives students as he walks around the arena during an NCAA men’s basketball game between BYU and the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 18 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, cheers after a missed foul shot from a West Virginia Mountaineers player during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 19 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, and the rest of the student section try to distract a West Virginia Mountaineers player as he takes a foul shot during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 20 of 36 BYU center Keba Keita (13) goes up with the ball amid West Virginia Mountaineers defenders during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 21 of 36 BYU guard Elijah Crawford (2) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jake Auer (8) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 22 of 36 BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) slaps hands with guard Elijah Crawford (2) after Boskovic made a basket during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 23 of 36 BYU head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA men’s basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 24 of 36 AJ Dybantsa, the nation's No. 1 basketball recruit who has committed to BYU, hugs BYU players after they defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers in an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 25 of 36 BYU forward Richie Saunders (15) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 26 of 36 West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Darian DeVries watches a play unfold against BYU during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 27 of 36 BYU guard Egor Demin (3) is guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) as Demin drives the ball around a screen set by center Keba Keita (13) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 28 of 36 BYU forward Kanon Catchings (6) is tended to after being roughed up on a play against the West Virginia Mountaineers during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 29 of 36 BYU center Keba Keita (13) shoots the ball while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Sencire Harris (10) and forward Amani Hansberry (13) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 30 of 36 BYU guard Dallin Hall (30) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard KJ Tenner (3) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 31 of 36 BYU head coach Kevin Young watches a play unfold against the West Virginia Mountaineers during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 32 of 36 BYU guard Trey Stewart (1) and West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jonathan Powell (11) compete for possession of the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 33 of 36 BYU center Fousseyni Traore (45) goes up for a shot while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers center Eduardo Andre (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 34 of 36 BYU forward Richie Saunders (15) blocks a shot from West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 35 of 36 BYU center Fousseyni Traore (45) lays the ball up while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers center Eduardo Andre (0) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 36 of 36 BYU forward Richie Saunders (15) lays the ball up while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 1, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Fouss feasted. With BYU ineffective from deep for most of the night — and starter Keba Keita in early foul trouble — the Cougars were forced to lean more heavily on Fousseyni Traore, and the senior big man did not disappoint.

Traore was dominant down low, posting 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and the 21st of his career.

West Virginia had no answer for Traore, and Dallin Hall took full advantage of it, as all six of Hall’s assists came on Traore buckets, with the pair running a lethal pick-and-roll operation.

The Cougars scored a total of 46 points in the paint against the Mountaineers, proving their ability to adapt and prevail even when 3-pointers aren’t falling.

Such capability will surely be valuable in the postseason.

“We have different ways we can score,” Young said after the game. “We’re not a one trick pony. That was on display tonight.”

BYU’s defense came to play. The Cougars held the Mountaineers to just 33.3% shooting on the night and an 8 of 27 showing from long distance.

While he didn’t attempt a single shot, Mawot Mag had one of his best performances in a BYU uniform. Mag and Trey Stewart were tasked with guarding Mountaineers star Javon Small — one of the most dynamic and potent offensive players in the Big 12 — and turned him into a near non-factor, shooting 5 of 14 with only two assists and a team-low plus/minus of -24.

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