BYU and West Virginia Face Off in Key Big 12 Battle

With matching 15-8 records, BYU and West Virginia sit in the heart of the Big 12 standings, each fighting to improve their NCAA Tournament chances. Their first of two meetings in less than three weeks takes place Tuesday in Morgantown, W.Va., in what could be a bubble-defining game.

Both teams have 6-6 conference records and sit near each other in the NCAA NET rankings, with West Virginia at No. 38 and BYU at No. 41. A win here could provide a much-needed resume boost as the regular season winds down.

BYU Looking to Rebound After Two Straight Losses

The Cougars enter the matchup reeling from back-to-back losses, including a brutal 84-66 defeat at Cincinnati on Saturday. BYU led early in the second half but allowed an 18-0 run, leading to an ugly finish.

The biggest issue? Rebounding. Cincinnati dominated the glass 32-17, leading to 16 second-chance points—while BYU had zero. Their starting five managed just seven total rebounds, while also shooting 3-of-15 from deep.

Adding to the frustration, BYU had crushed Cincinnati 80-52 at home just two weeks earlier.

Despite the slump, Richie Saunders (15.1 PPG) and Egor Demin (11.1 PPG, 5.6 APG) remain key players for the Cougars. Demin, a 6-foot-9 point guard projected as an NBA Draft lottery pick, will have a must-watch matchup against West Virginia’s Javon Small, the Big 12’s leading scorer at 18.9 PPG.

West Virginia Relying on Home-Court Energy

The Mountaineers are coming off a big 72-61 home win over Utah on Saturday, thanks to a well-rounded scoring effort.

• Amani Hansberry (17 points) led the way.
• Small and Joseph Yesufu added 14 each.

West Virginia coach Darian DeVries credited the crowd for providing an extra boost:Playing in Morgantown is never easy, and West Virginia has used its home crowd to fuel multiple key wins this season.

Can BYU Overcome the Morgantown Magic Again?

BYU has experience winning in a hostile West Virginia environment—last season, Fousseyni Traore dominated with 24 points and nine rebounds in an 86-73 victory. However, Traore has struggled this season, making it unclear if he can replicate that performance.

The Matchup to Watch: Demin vs. Small

This game could hinge on the battle between two elite guards:

• Egor Demin (BYU): The 6-foot-9 floor general has the size and vision to create mismatches.
• Javon Small (West Virginia): The Big 12’s leading scorer is relentless on offense and thrives under pressure.

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Who Has the Edge?

• BYU’s keys to victory: Improve rebounding, limit turnovers, and find offensive rhythm early.
• West Virginia’s advantage: Home-court energy, physicality, and balanced scoring.

With both teams fighting for NCAA Tournament positioning, expect a high-stakes battle. Can BYU stop its skid, or will West Virginia ride its home crowd to another big win?