Can the Cougars' Dominant Paint Performance Foreshadow More Victories?
The Brigham Young University Cougars improved their season record to 21-3 after a commanding victory over the Texas Longhorns with a final score of 84-72. The Longhorns now stand at 15-9, following the encounter at the Marriott Center in Provo.
In front of a spirited crowd of 17,878 fans, the BYU Cougars showcased an impressive offensive display. The team's field goal percentage was an outstanding 64 percent, with their two-point attempts finding success at an even more remarkable rate of 76 percent. This sharpshooting contributed significantly to their total points tally and was complemented by a solid free throw performance where they made 87 percent of their shots.
Defensively, the Cougars were just as formidable. They amassed seven blocks and three steals over the course of play. Their defensive prowess was further highlighted by securing a total rebound count of 32 compared to Texas' 24 rebounds. Of these, BYU pulled down an impressive number on defense with 23 defensive rebounds which helped limit second-chance opportunities for Texas.
The home team's ability to control the paint was undeniable as they outscored Texas in this area by a substantial margin with 40 points in paint against Texas' contribution of only half that amount. Furthermore, BYU capitalized on turnovers better than their opponents; despite committing more turnovers themselves (16), they managed to score more points off turnovers (12) than Texas did from theirs (17).
On offense for BYU, ball distribution played a key role as evidenced by their assist count which stood close to that of Texas', with only one less assist at sixteen for BYU versus seventeen for Texas. However, it is worth noting that while both teams had similar assists numbers, it was BYU's higher assists turnover ratio that underscored their efficient ball handling under pressure.
Looking ahead after this conference game win against Texas Longhorns, Brigham Young University fans can mark their calendars for another exciting matchup when the Cougars travel to face West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown on February third at six PM Eastern Time. Fans unable to attend can catch all the action live on ESPN+ via internet broadcast networks.