Fouss Traore (29 points) boosts undefeated BYU over Idaho
Oct 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks to media during the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Fouss Traore tallied a career-high 29 points along with nine rebounds to lift BYU to a 95-71 home win over Idaho on Saturday afternoon in Provo, Utah.
Richie Saunders also played a pivotal role for BYU (4-0), scoring a career-high 26 points with four rebounds, four steals, three assists and three blocks.
Coming off the bench, Traore scored 16 points in a row for BYU during a decisive stretch in the second half. He made 11 of 12 field goals and all seven free throws. He also had one block.
Tyler Mrus scored 17 and Julius Mims contributed 14 points and six rebounds, but Idaho (1-3) couldn't maintain its early lead en route to a third straight loss.
The Vandals scored the first five points and went up 13-6, marking the first time BYU trailed this season.
A Saunders layup sparked an 8-0 run later in the first half to help BYU take a six-point lead before settling on a 41-38 halftime advantage.
Saunders capped a 10-0 spurt with a lay-in and a 3-pointer as BYU opened up its first double-digit lead, 56-45, early in the second half.
Traore then went on his big run to help the Cougars maintain momentum. Traore put BYU up 76-57 with two free throws, capping a 9-0 run in which he did all the scoring.
Freshman Egor Demin had another solid outing for the Cougars, totaling 16 points, seven assists, three blocks and three steals.
BYU shot 55.9 percent (33 of 59) from the field but just 63.3 percent (19 of 30) from the free-throw line. Saunders hit 4 of 8 from beyond the arc for BYU, which shot 38.5 percent on 3-point attempts.
The Cougars have beaten 17 straight nonconference foes and 22 in a row in November games at home.
Idaho had a strong shooting performance, going 26-for-52 (50 percent) from the field and 12-for-21 (57.1 percent) from 3-point range. Mrus was 4-for-8 from deep.
--Field Level Media
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