Instant Takeaways From BYU’s Blowout Win Over Florida A&M
Dec 20, 2024, 9:07 PM
Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) dribbles around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Roderick Coffee III (1) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – The BYU basketball finished non-conference play with a resounding win over Florida A&M 103-57.
Egor Demin and Richie Saunders did not play for BYU. Demin has been out since the loss against Providence and Richie Saunders suffered a concussion in the win against Wyoming.
Here are some takeaways from the Cougars 9th win of the season.
Mawot Mag pushing for playing time
Mag got the start in place of Richie Saunders due to his injury. He’s known for stellar defense, however, his offense is making him a viable rotational player when conference play begins.
He transferred in from Rutgers in the offseason after spending his first four years in New Jersey.
Mag was one of five players who scored in double figures. He had 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting.
He’s never going to fill it up offensively, but any points he adds are a bonus.
#BYU vs Florida A&M 1st half thoughts:
– Love the Cougars bench. Fouss + Dawson Baker off the bench is nice
– Mawot Mag is playing himself into the conference rotation
– Dallin Hall making multiple 3's is a positive sign going forward
– Cougs dominated the glass#BYUhoops— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) December 21, 2024
His strong shooting is making head coach Kevin Young think long and hard about who should receive playing time when this group is fully healthy.
The Cougars have battled the health bug all season long. Kanon Catchings is the only player to have played and started all 11 games this season.
However, the depth of this team has been established. I believe it will pay dividends in conference play.
Kanon Catchings’s offensive efficiency
The freshman from Indiana was in a bit of a scoring slump coming into the game. He had five consecutive games shooting below 50 percent from the field.
I’m sure Catchings was relieved to shoot his way out of his slump with 21 points on eight made field goals. He shot 66 percent from the field and made four three-point shots.
Kanon Catchings with a career-high 19 points with 18:00 minutes remaining in regulation.#BYUHoops #GoCougs
— BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) December 21, 2024
He’s a gifted offensive player with his height and athleticism. It feels like any shot he takes is a quality shot due to the opponent’s inability to get a quality contest.
The Cougar’s ceiling raises when Catchings scores efficiently as he did against the Rattlers.
BYU three-point shooting
Last season BYU lived and died by the long ball.
This team isn’t as reliant on making three-point shots every game, but it doesn’t hurt when they do.
Against the Rattlers, BYU made 15 of their 34 attempted three-point shots. That’s good for 44 percent.
Seven different players made a three-point shot, including freshman Brody Kozlowski and fan favorite Jared McGregor.
The Marriott Center erupted when he buried a triple with under two minutes to play.
mood at the marriott center pic.twitter.com/B5YL5Bq2gh
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 21, 2024
Up next, Big 12 conference play begins when the Cougars host Arizona State on New Year’s Eve.
You can hear Matt Baiamonte every Saturday on KSL Newsradio for Cougar Sports Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. or you can find him on Twitter @baiamontematt here.
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