PROVO — The BYU men's basketball team lost to Utah Valley 75-60 at the Marriott Center on Wednesday night. 

"We are working really hard to find ourselves right now," said head coach Mark Pope. "There's a lot of things that we are not doing great right now. We know we are not playing very well right now. The guys are super committed to trying to get better and that is our job. So that is what I look forward to doing."

BOX SCORE

GAME NOTES

Traore was the leading scorer for the Cougars as the sophomore reached double figures for the sixth time this season with 18. He went 8-of-10 from the field, tying a season-high in made field goals to go along with seven rebounds. Rudi Williams scored 15 points off the bench with Gideon George also reaching doubles with 10 points and eight rebounds. 

BYU shot 35.7 percent from the field, 15.4 percent from 3-point range and 69.6 percent from the free throw line. They also forced 17 Wolverine turnovers including nine steals. 

Traore became a force in the paint early, scoring the Cougars first eight points going 4-of-4 from the field. UVU and BYU both eclipsed 70 percent shooting at the first timeout break of the half. The Cougars led 11-10.

Rudi Williams lifted BYU early, scoring a quick seven points just eight minutes into the game. Although the Wolverines were outshooting the Cougars 50-45 percent, BYU led 25-20 with just over eight minutes remaining in the half.

UVU eventually tied the game at 30 with a three by Aziz Bandaogo at the top of the key, with just over four minutes remaining in the half. 

BYU forced UVU to 12 first-half turnovers as the Cougars ultimately led at the half 38-34.

The Wolverines took the lead early in the second half as they led 41-40 with just over 16 minutes remaining in the game. A Traore jumper at 13:26 give the Cougars back the lead but was abruptly followed by a 11-0 run by UVU to put distance between the two teams.

The Cougars would go on a 4-0 run four minutes late with baskets from George and Traore to cut the deficit to six, 55-49, but that would be the closest BYU would get as the Wolverines continued to punish them from 3-point range. 

BYU will be back in action on Saturday, December 10, with a matchup against No. 12 Creighton at the Jack Jones Hoopfest. Tip is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast live on FS1 and can be heard live on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143, BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app or KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM. 

PROVO – BYU men’s basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Marriott Center for the first time in more than two weeks on Wednesday, December 7, when the Cougars host Utah Valley. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Wednesday’s contest will be broadcast on BYUtv. Greg Wrubell and Mark Durrant will also be on the call on the BYU Sports Network on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143 and KSL 102.7/1160 AM.

BYU Notes (5-4 0-0 WCC)

• BYU fell to 5-4 on the season on Saturday with a 69-68 setback to South Dakota at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
• BYU has won 11 straight non-conference home games at the Marriott Center dating back to December 2020.
• Fousseyni Traore recorded his third double-double of the season against the Coyotes, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• Dallin Hall finished with a career-high 14 points and six assists on Saturday. He currently ranks sixth in the West Coast Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Head Coach – Mark Pope

• Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1996
• Division I Career Record: 150-57 (8th Season)
• Record at BYU:  73-30 (4th Season)

Utah Valley Notes (4-4, 0-0 WAC)

• Utah Valley makes the trip up University Parkway with a record of 4-4 following a 88-78 win over Long Beach State last week.
• Justin Harmon is the leading for the Wolverines as the 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 14.1 points per game, shooting 46.2 percent from the field.
• Through eight games, Aziz Bandaogo is averaging a double-double with 12.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest.

Head Coach – Mark Madsen

• Alma Mater: Stanford, 2000
• Division 1 Career Record: 46-46 (4th Season)

Series Information

• Series Record: 5-2
• Last Meeting: Utah Valley won 72-65 (ot), 12/01/21
• H/A/N: 4-1/1-1/0-0

Broadcast Information

• TV: BYUtv
• TV Talent: Dave McCann, Blaine Fowler, Spencer Linton
• Streamed Video: byutv.org, BYUtv app
• Streamed Audio: BYU Radio Sirius XM 143, KSL 102.7/1160 AM, BYURadio.org, BYU Radio app
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell, Mark Durrant
• Live stats: BYUCougars.com