01/11/26 12:22:00
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01/11 00:20 CST Saunders has 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 9 BYU past
rival Utah 89-84
Saunders has 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 9 BYU past rival Utah 89-84
By MATTHEW COLES
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) --- Richie Saunders scored 17 of his 24 points in the
second half and No. 9 BYU outlasted Utah 89-84 on Saturday night.
Robert Wright III had 23 points and AJ Dybantsa added 20 for BYU. Saunders tied
his career high with 14 rebounds as the Cougars (15-1, 3-0 Big 12) won their
12th straight game.
Terence Brown scored 25 points for Utah but turned the ball over in the corner
with 8.9 seconds left when his team had a chance to tie. Saunders was fouled
and clinched the game with two free throws.
Don McHenry had 21 points for the Utes (8-8, 0-3), who have lost three in a row
but never let BYU relax in this rivalry game.
After the Utes drew to 81-80, Wright scored four points and assisted on Keba
Keita's layup --- but missed a shot that left it a one-possession game.
The Cougars went on a 12-2 run to start the second half. Saunders had six
points during the surge and his reverse layup made it 57-45 with 15:43 to play.
Keanu Dawes' thunderous dunk gave Utah a 24-20 lead with 9:29 left in the first
half. BYU responded with a 9-0 spurt, punctuated by Wright's 3-pointer, and
finished the period ahead 45-43.
The schools are separated by 45 miles and there were almost as many Cougars
fans as Utes supporters in the sellout crowd. At halftime, new Utah football
coach Morgan Scalley introduced his staff through chants from BYU fans and then
said, "This is the best rivalry in the nation" to which all fans could cheer.
The Cougars are 9-0 when Saunders scores 20 or more.
Dybantsa has nine straight 20-point games, second-most for a Big 12 freshman
behind former Oklahoma guard Trae Young.
Up next
BYU hosts TCU on Wednesday.
Utah visits No. 14 Texas Tech on Wednesday.
___
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to BYU's winning streak
tying the program record.
___
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