AMES, Iowa – In a dramatic showdown that stretched into double overtime, No. 23 BYU secured an 88-85 victory over No. 10 Iowa State on Tuesday night, marking their seventh consecutive win.
Richie Saunders led the charge with a team-high 23 points, while Dallin Hall provided a crucial spark off the bench with 22 points. Egor Demin contributed 12 points, and Mawot Mag added 10 for the Cougars (22-8, 13-6 Big 12), who nearly let a 21-point lead slip away before pulling through in the end.
“I don’t even know what to say,” BYU head coach Kevin Young admitted after the game. “We had that big lead, but we knew Iowa State would respond. It became a battle of toughness, and we had to dig deep to finish it out.”
The Cyclones (22-8, 12-7) saw strong performances from Joshua Jefferson, who led with 19 points, and Milan Momcilovic, who added 18. Curtis Jones scored 16 off the bench, while Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert chipped in with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Despite a staggering 29 turnovers, BYU found a way to prevail against a top-10 opponent on the road.
“I’ve never seen a team win with that many turnovers,” Young said. “But our guys fought through it.”
Hall credited his teammates and coaches for trusting him in clutch moments.
“I just had to keep attacking,” Hall said. “Even with the mistakes, we had to stay aggressive.”
The Cyclones, who forced 18 steals, made a late push to force overtime. Down 61-50 with six minutes left, Iowa State rallied, and a three-pointer from Momcilovic tied the game at 66 with just 44 seconds remaining in regulation.
In the second overtime, Hall’s driving layup gave BYU a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Demin’s two free throws extended the advantage to 87-83 with just over two minutes left, securing the victory.
Saunders was perfect from the free-throw line, sinking all 13 of his attempts—his best mark of the season.
After blowing a double-digit lead in last year’s meeting at Iowa State, the Cougars were determined not to repeat history.
“You learn from past experiences,” Saunders said. “This time, we stayed focused and finished strong.”
With one more win at home against Utah on Saturday, BYU can clinch the No. 4 seed and a double-bye in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.
“These guys are locked in,” Young said. “A couple of months ago, we felt like we turned a corner and started playing with more toughness. Now, we’re seeing the results.”
BYU will look to extend their winning streak when they host Utah at the Marriott Center on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
