Fousseyni Traore's 19 points lead No. 20 BYU past Oklahoma State

Field Level Media|published: Sun 10th March, 04:15 2024

Feb 17, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) drives to the basket around Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jamyron Keller (14) and Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Eric Dailey Jr. (2) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. credits: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Fousseyni Traore scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting to help No. 20 BYU notch an 85-71 victory over Oklahoma State in Big 12 play on Saturday night at Provo, Utah.

Jaxson Robinson added 17 points and Spencer Johnson contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Cougars (22-9, 10-8 Big 12). BYU led by as many as 25 points while winning for the eighth time in the past 12 games.

Javon Small established career highs of 34 points and five 3-pointers for Oklahoma State (12-19, 4-14), which lost its fifth consecutive contest. The Cowboys are just 1-9 in true road games.

BYU earned the No. 5 seed in next week's Big 12 tournament with the victory. Oklahoma State is the No. 13 seed.

The Cougars made 50.8 percent of their shots and hit 12 of 31 from 3-point range.

Oklahoma State connected on 44.8 percent of its attempts, including 6 of 21 from behind the arc. Small was 5 of 9 and the rest of the Cowboys were 1 of 12 from deep.

BYU led by three at halftime before beginning the second half with 13 straight points to open up a 45-29 lead. Johnson made two 3-pointers and Aly Khalifa hit one during the burst.

A short time later, Robinson and Richie Saunders buried 3-pointers and Traore and Robinson added inside baskets as the Cougars increased their lead to 62-37 with 10:05 remaining.

Small later scored eight points during a 9-0 run that brought the Cowboys within 64-51 with 7:34 remaining. Dallin Hall drained a trey for BYU before Brandon Garrison and Justin McBride each converted three-point plays as Oklahoma State crept within 10.

Traore answered with three points and Hall scored on a layup as the Cougars increased their lead to 72-57 with 4:31 left.

Small later scored eight straight Oklahoma State points as the Cowboys moved within 11 with 2:15 left. But Saunders made a 3-pointer five seconds later and BYU later took an 85-71 lead and finished off the victory.

Robinson scored 10 first-half points as BYU held a 32-29 halftime lead. Eric Dailey Jr. had seven in the half for the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State scored the game's first six points before BYU scored 26 of the next 37 points to take the lead for good.

—Field Level Media