To the untrained eye, it looked as though the No. 11 BYU Cougars regressed a little bit offensively in their hard-fought 76-70 win over defensive-minded TCU Wednesday night in front of 17,983 at the Marriott Center.
Cougars on the air
No. 11 BYU (16-1, 4-0) at No. 15 Texas Tech (13-4, 3-1)
- Saturday, 6 p.m. MST
- At United Supermarkets Arena
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app
Actually, head coach Kevin Young pointed out in his postgame interviews, it was the opposite. The second-year coach credited TCU’s defensive effort, and attributed the season-low 35.3% shooting from the field and season-low 20.8% (5 of 24) shooting from 3-point range to the Frogs’ tenacity and guys just not making shots, rather than poor shot selection or the like.
“I was proud of the way our guys executed. Look, to score 46 points against that team in the second half, that’s pretty impressive,” Young said. “That was our best offensive execution of the season, and we needed every bit of it.”
Young pointed to a 3-pointer that Richie Saunders made with 2:14 remaining to push BYU’s lead to 70-63 as an example of outstanding execution. The senior had missed his first five 3-point attempts, but kept plugging away and his teammates kept finding him.
“Our guys stayed the course, and that shot Richie took was a product of doing just that,” Young said.
Against TCU’s pressure defense, the Cougars committed just nine turnovers after struggling to take care of the ball in wins over Kansas State, Arizona State and Utah. Point guard Rob Wright was especially efficient, with six assists, 15 points and just two turnovers in more than 39 minutes.
“The stuff that we spent a lot of time on, I thought paid dividends,” Young said. “I thought Rob, for the most part, was very surgical against their aggressive defense.”
The biggest reason why the Cougars won, according to both Young and TCU coach Jamie Dixon, was that the Cougars collected 24 second-chance points on a whopping 21 offensive rebounds. Even with backup center Bido Ahmed sidelined with a sore shoulder, the Cougars won the rebounding battle 51-36, including a 30-13 advantage in the second half.
Dixon cautiously pointed out the free-throw disparity, noting that BYU went to the line 29 times (making 23) while the visitors got 18 freebies, making 12. The Frogs made one more field goal than BYU did, 25-24. Clearly, Dixon acknowledged, BYU was the more aggressive team in the second half, when it got eight more opportunities from the charity stripe.
Saunders, who was 9 of 11 from the line, said the message at halftime was to attack even more, and go hard to the glass. He said coaches showed the Cougars a clip of Keba Keita diving for a loose ball in the first half to inspire them to play even harder.
“He got the extra possession, and KY said, ‘that’s why we’re going to win this game,’” Saunders said. “It was an attitude of toughness.”
Young prides himself on having a team that can play different styles offensively — slow or fast, inside or out, isolation stuff involving the uber-talented AJ Dybantsa, and everything in between. That was on full display Wednesday night as BYU improved to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 2012-13 in the WCC.
The more I think about it the more impressive last nights win over TCU was.
Guys are sick/out. Foul trouble. Inconsistent officiating. 35% from the field. 21% from 3. Late game. Good TCU team.
Good teams win in multiple different ways. Last night was huge.
— TJ Haws (@tjhaws30) January 15, 2026
“It just helps prove to the guys that we can win in a lot of different ways,” Young said. “We are not a one- or even a two-trick pony. If you are missing shots, there are still ways you can impact winning. … It was a team effort there. I think it just gives our guys confidence.”
A lot of confidence will be needed for what’s next, as 16-1 BYU’s schedule gets even more difficult. The Cougars are ahead of schedule with 13-straight wins and 12 straight Big 12 regular-season wins dating back to last year. They’ve been able to win on the road and at home, as Young is now 23-2 (92%) in the Marriott Center.
By way of comparison, Dave Rose won 88.1% of his home games, while Mark Pope won 84.6% of his, against lesser competition than what Young has faced.
“We know that we’re a good team and we have to stick together and find a way,” Saunders said.
BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) goes at the basket with Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward Xavier Edmonds (24) defending as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) goes high over Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) for a rebound as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) pushes up a shot over Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Jayden Pierre (1) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) and fans celebrate after a 3-point shot as BYU and Texas Christian University play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) celebrates after a shot as BYU and Texas Christian University play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Texas Christian University Horned Frogs center Vianney Salatchoum (23) blocks BYU Cougars guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) and Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) defends the hoop as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) drives the baseline with Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Jayden Pierre (1) defending as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (13) is blocked by Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward Xavier Edmonds (24) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) flips up a prayer shot with Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward Micah Robinson (5) defending as the end of the first half of play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) sits up after not getting a foul call as BYU and Texas Christian University play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) misses a shot as BYU and Texas Christian University play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) tries to split Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Brock Harding (2) and Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward Xavier Edmonds (24) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The TCU Horned Frogs and BYU Cougars play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Texas Christian University Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon calls a play as TCU and the BYU Cougars play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) battles Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Brock Harding (2) for the ball as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Fans cheer after BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) dropped in a 3-point shot as the Cougars play the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars bench cheer after a basket as they and the TCU Horned Frogs play at the Marriott Center in Provo in Provo, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars mascot Cosmo celebrates after the game as the Cougars squeaked out a win over the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Fans cheer after BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) dropped in a 3-point shot as the Cougars play the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) goes high over Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) for a rebound as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) and fans react to a call by the referee as the Cougars and TCU Horned Frogs play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) rips down a rebound as the Cougars and Horned Frogs play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) flips up a prayer shot with Texas Christian University Horned Frogs forward Micah Robinson (5) defending as the end of the first half of play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) celebrates after hitting a 3-point shot as the Cougars and TCU Horned Frogs play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young turns and brushes away with his hand after a foul is called as BYU and the TCU Horned Frogs play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. BYU won 76-70. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
