Box Score

OREM, Utah – No. 12 BYU men’s basketball was unable to overcome turnovers, cold shooting and key absences as it lost 72-65 in overtime at Utah Valley on Wednesday night.

“UVU played really well, really physical,” said BYU head coach Mark Pope. “A ton of credit goes to those guys, but I’m proud of our guys as well. There were times they could’ve walked away and they didn’t. They got us to overtime.”

The Cougars tied their game high lead at 50-43 following two made free-throws from Te’Jon Lucas. The Wolverines responded with a 12-5 run to finish regulation, including an eight-minute stretch in which they kept BYU scoreless from the field.

BYU faced a 54-51 deficit with 17 seconds remaining when Seneca Knight made two key free throws followed by a lay-in from Spencer Johnson that forced overtime with the score knotted at 55.

Lucas and Caleb Lohner put BYU up 59-57 early in the extra period, but the Cougars struggled to contain an aggressive UVU attack as the Wolverines finished the game on a 15-6 run.

While BYU outrebounded UVU 53-50, cold shooting held the Cougars in its icy grip throughout the game. As a team, BYU finished the night shooting 32 percent from the floor and 26 percent from distance. 15 BYU turnovers contributed to 24 fast break points for the Wolverines. UVU shot 31 percent from the floor for the game and 26 percent from 3-point range yet turned the ball over just 10 times.

Knight made his first BYU start and made his presence felt early with five points, four rebounds and two blocks in the first half. The New Orleans, La. native finished the night with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Alex Barcello led the Cougars with his second career double-double at 17 points and 11 rebounds. Spencer Johnson nearly recorded another double-double at 15 points and nine boards.

Defense dominated the first half, as the Cougars held a slim 24-22 lead at the break. BYU ran out to an early 9-2 lead with driving lay-ins from Barcello and Lucas, and a 3-pointer from Johnson.

After the Cougars held UVU to 7 percent shooting from the floor in the opening eight minutes, the Wolverines responded with a 9-0 run and took the lead at 11-8.

The Cougars countered with key contributions off the bench from Johnson and Trevin Knell. A Knell 3-pointer put BYU back up 12-11. On the ensuing two possessions BYU made key plays on defense with a Johnson steal and score and Knell plucking away the ball and pushing it ahead to Lohner for the dunk.

BYU (6-1) now travels to face Missouri State of the Missouri Valley Conference on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST. Watch the Cougars’ matchup with the Bears on CBS Sports Network or listen live on BYU Radio and the BYU Sports Network KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM.

PROVO, Utah – No. 12 BYU continues its three-game road trip on Wednesday against Utah Valley. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Wednesday’s contest will be broadcast on BYUtv. It will also be broadcast live on BYU Sports Network on the BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2 and KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM.

No. 12 BYU Notes (6-0, 0-0 West Coast Conference)

• BYU continued its perfect start to the season with a 75-64 victory over Utah on Saturday evening in Salt Lake City. It was the Cougars first win over the Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center since 2011.
• BYU continued its rise in the nation rankings as they moved up six spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25. It is the fourth-highest ranking in program history in the past 50 years and marks the first time since 1981 they have been ranked in November. They also moved up five spots to No. 13 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll.
• The Cougars one of the top rebounding teams in the nation ranking 13thin rebounding margin (+11.3). They also ranked 23rdin offensive rebounds per game (14.2/game).
• Te’Jon Lucas has made an immediate impact for the Cougars as the senior guard is averaging 11.3 points and 5.0 assists per game. He ranks 42nd in the nation in assists per game and 51stin assist turnover ratio.  
• Caleb Lohner recorded his first career double-double against the Utes with a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with 10 points.

Head Coach – Mark Pope

• Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1996
• Division I Career Record: 127-71 (7th Season)
• Record at BYU: 50-15 (3rdSeason)

Utah Valley Notes (6-1, 0-0 WAC)

• Utah Valley enters Wednesday’s contest with a record of 6-1 following a 77-68 victory over Denver on Saturday. The Wolverines have won six straight games since dropping their season opener to Boise State on Nov. 9.
• The Wolverines are led by Mark Madsen, who has accumulated a record of 28-31 during his three-year tenure in Orem. The former Los Angeles Lakers player and assistant coach led UVU to the WAC regular season title in 2020-21.
• Fardaws Aimaq is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Wolverines. The 6-11 center from Vancouver, British Columbia currently leads the nation in total rebounds, defensive rebounds per game and double-doubles.
• The UVU roster features three former Cougars in Connor Harding, Blaze Nield and Colby Leifson. Harding appeared in 90 games during his career scoring a total of 536 points.
• The Wolverines are 1-0 against the WCC this season after defeating Pepperdine 86-74 at the SoCal Challenge in Malibu, Calif.

Head Coach – Mark Madsen

• Alma Mater: Stanford, 2000
• Division I Career Record: 28-31 (3rd season)
• Record at Utah Valley: Same

Series Information

• Series Record: BYU leads 4-1
• Last Meeting: BYU won 82-60, November 28, 2020
• H/A/N: 3-1/1-0/0-0

Broadcast Information

• TV: BYUtv
• TV Talent: Dave McCann, Blaine Fowler
• Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM
• Streamed Audio: BYU Cougars App, BYUCougars.com/LiveRadio
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell, Mark Durrant
• Live stats: BYUCougars.com