BYU’s Keba Keita Lands On SportsCenter Top 10 Plays For Iowa State Block

BYU center Keba Keita had a fantastic defensive play in the Cougars’ double-overtime 88-85 win at No. 10 Iowa State on Tuesday night.

During the first overtime period, BYU had an inbounds pass that was overthrown, resulting in a turnover. Iowa State’s Nate Heise gathered the loose ball.

THE KEBA CHASE DOWN!!

📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/KXuoEMuOvh

— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) March 5, 2025

Heise appeared to have an easy fastbreak layup or dunk. However, junior center Keba Keita chased him down and came up with an impressive block to leave Iowa State scoreless on that fastbreak opportunity.

Keba Keita earns the No. 9 spot on SportsCenter’s “Top Plays”

The chase-down block made it to ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays for Tuesday night.

It was ranked No. 9 on the “Top Plays” list. However, I would argue that it should have been higher, as it’s one of the great defensive plays in BYU basketball history.

Keba Keita’s block against Iow State is No. 9 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

🎥: @tanner_tripp https://t.co/JO7Xb1lgtw pic.twitter.com/lSeFxW92jQ

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 5, 2025

Maybe it was a case of producers trying to squeeze in the impressive block but not having to worry about editing plays one through eight that they had already put together. Who knows? But only number nine for a defensive effort like that? It seems a tad bit low.

“Keba Keita, hustling down the court. Great block. BYU in double-overtime, and they get the win over Iowa State to make it seven straight,” said ESPN’s Verrett when describing the No. 9 play in Tuesday’s Top Plays on SportsCenter.

Keita finished with three blocks against Iowa State

Keita finished the game with seven points and 15 rebounds; nine of those 15 boards were offensive rebounds and three blocked shots in 28 minutes of action.

The win over Iowa State gives BYU its seventh consecutive victory and locks up a top-four seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in Kansas City next week.

BYU is now 22-8 overall and 13-6 in the Big 12. On Saturday, Keba Keita and BYU will return to action to face Keita’s old squad, the University of Utah, at the Marriott Center at 8 p.m. on ESPNU and KSL NewsRadio.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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