BYU comes up short in 72-67 loss to Texas Tech

In a game with 15 lead changes and 10 ties, BYU drops its first game in the Marriott Center this season.

Author Mayci Taylor
BYU comes up short in 72-67 loss to Texas TechBYU comes up short in 72-67 loss to Texas Tech
Box Score

PROVO, Utah — BYU saw its 14-game home win streak come to an end on Tuesday with a 72-67 loss to Texas Tech.

"We have to make free throws to win close games and have to rebound the ball to win close games," said head coach Kevin Young. "The second chance points didn’t really hurt us, but I’m disappointed in giving them 14 offensive rebounds."

Foussenyi Traore led BYU in scoring with 14 points on 5-of-10 from the field to reach double figures for the sixth time this season and the 60th time in his career. Freshman Egor Demin and Mawot Mag joined Traore in double figures, chipping in 12 and 11, respectively. 

Keba Keita collected double digit rebounds for the sixth time this season and the 10th time of his collegiate career as he tallied 10 to lead the Cougars. Mag and Traore also pulled down five apiece. 

Denim dished out six assists and Richie Saunders three.

BYU made 35-of-57 for 43.9 percent from the field as a whole. The Cougars struggled from the 3-point line connecting on just 5-of-23 for 21.7 percent and 12-of-21 from the free throw line for 57.1 percent. 

Texas Tech shot 44.8 percent from the field making 26-of-58 attempts. The Red Raiders capitalized from the 3-point line doubling the Cougars’ makes and shooting 10-of-28 for 35.7 percent. The visitors outrebounded BYU 39-36, 14 being offensive, and scored 12 points in transition to the Cougars’ eight. 

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First Half
BYU reached double digits first with eight of its 10 points being scored by freshmen Demin and Kannon Catchings. The Cougars were just 2-of-6 from the free throw line in the opening minutes of the contests as the Red Raiders knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to lead 14-10 at the first media timeout. 

Traore proved to be a spark off of the bench tallying five points in just over four minutes of play on a jumper, layup and a free throw to give BYU the lead at 17-16. Texas Tech scored two in transition to reclaim its lead entering the second media timeout ahead 18-17 with 7:55 left in the first frame. 

Out of the break, Dallin Hall became the hot hand as he scored six straight on a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key, free throw and contested right hand drive and finish. The Red Raiders called timeout as the Cougars led by three.

The score was knotted at 23 apiece with five minutes left in the first period. Three lead changes later, Trey Stewart drilled a contested shot from deep as the first half clock expired. BYU took a 34-32 lead into the locker room.

Nine Cougars scored in the first frame. Traore led BYU with seven as Hall and Catchings chipped in six apiece. Keita pulled down four rebounds and Demin two assists to lead the home team.

Collectively, BYU made 13-of-28 from the field for 46.4 percent while holding Texas Tech to 36.7 percent. The Cougars struggled from range at 18 percent and from the line at 50 percent. The Red Raiders outrebounded BYU 20-19 and tallied six assists to the Cougar’s five.

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Second Half
Saunders assisted BYU’s first two scores of the half finding Demin for two plus a foul and a streaking Mag for two more. The Cougars maintained their two-point lead ahead 39-37 five minutes into the second half. 

The Red Raiders engineered a 6-0 scoring run before Mag made a 3-pointer and BYU created its own run, scoring seven straight, capped off by a Dawson Baker triple. The Cougars led by four with 11 minutes remaining in the contest. 

Denim found an opening in the Red Raiders defense and drove the lane for two points to increase BYU’s lead to five: its largest lead in the contest. Back-to-back shots from deep ended a three-and-a-half minute Texas Tech scoring drought and the Red Raiders regained the lead at 54-53. 

Texas Tech outscored BYU 9-5 over the next four minutes and BYU found itself down 58-63 at the final media timeout of the game. 

Saunders rallied for the Cougars scoring four straight to bring BYU within three. The Red Raiders answered with a bucket through contact and an offensive rebound on a missed free throw. The Cougars fouled again and Texas Tech scored two more from the line to lead 71-64 with 35 seconds remaining. 

BYU was forced to foul again and the Red Raiders made 1-of-2 from the line. Denim made a 3-pointer from deep before time expired but Texas Tech won 72-67.

Up Next
The Cougars will return to Texas for a Jan. 11 matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs. Watch the action on ESPN2 or listen to the call live on BYU Radio.