BYU Seeks Home Victory Against Injury-Struck Baylor
BYU will aim to extend its impressive home record as it hosts a banged-up Baylor team in a Big 12 matchup on Tuesday night in Provo, Utah. Both teams enter the game riding two-game winning streaks and showcasing similar strengths.
BYU’s Home Dominance and Hot Shooting
BYU (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) comes into the contest with a strong 10-1 home record this season. The Cougars displayed their offensive prowess in an 80-52 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday, fueled by 15 made 3-pointers. Richie Saunders led the way with five triples, while Egor Demin, Trevin Knell, and Kanon Catchings added three each.
The Cougars also connected on 11 3-pointers in their previous game, an 83-67 win at Colorado. BYU leads the Big 12 in made 3-pointers per game, averaging 10.6.
“We have a lot of good shooters,” BYU coach Kevin Young said. “That’s two games in a row that we’ve shown we are very capable of getting a lot of 3s. We’re playing with a little bit more halfcourt movement, making guys chase us a little bit more, which has helped get guys off us and gets us a little bit more space to get shots off.”
Baylor Overcoming Injuries
Baylor (13-6, 5-3 Big 12) comes off a hard-fought 76-61 victory at Utah on Saturday, led by standout performances from Norchad Omier (22 points, 12 rebounds) and VJ Edgecombe (21 points). However, injuries have taken a toll on the Bears’ roster.
Langston Love (ankle) has missed the last seven games, while Jeremy Roach (concussion protocol) has sat out the last two. Both players remain day-to-day heading into the BYU game.
Coach Scott Drew commended his team’s resilience despite the challenges.
“Our depleted roster, coupled with foul trouble, was a double whammy,” Drew said. “That’s not a recipe for success, but I thought our guys really competed and battled. Really proud of them.”
Key Comparisons
The teams share striking similarities. BYU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in scoring offense at 80.4 points per game, with Baylor close behind at 79.9. Both teams also excel in 3-point shooting, with BYU leading the conference in made triples and Baylor ranking third. Defensively, BYU and Baylor rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in scoring defense within the conference.
What’s at Stake
Both teams look to solidify their positions in the Big 12 standings. BYU will aim to leverage its home-court advantage and red-hot shooting, while Baylor seeks to overcome its injury struggles and maintain momentum.
The stage is set for an exciting clash of two evenly matched teams, with both programs vying to keep their winning streaks alive.