Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) battles Utah State Aggies center Trevin Dorius (32) for the ball as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jeff Call
By Jeff Call

No. 24 BYU defeated in-state rival Utah State 82-71 Wednesday night at the Marriott Center. It marks the Cougars’ 10th consecutive win over the Aggies. 

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Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) defends Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) defends Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) loses control of the ball with Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) dives after a loose ball as Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) falls over him as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) drives on Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) dives after a loose ball as Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) falls over him as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) fouls Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) in the final moments of the game as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) defends Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) at the hoop as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) is fouled by Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars students try to distract Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) as he stands at the free through line as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) jumps and passes over Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) puts up a shot over Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) looks to pass the ball with Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) pushes up a shot over Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) rips down a rebound as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) is able to draw a charge on Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) splits Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) and Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) splits the defense of Utah State Aggies guard Rylan Jones (15) and Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) is fouled by Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) reaches for a rebound as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) brings the ball up court with Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) defends Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) goes up for a shot over Utah State Aggies center Trevin Dorius (32) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) goes up for a lay-up with Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) reaches to regain control of the ball with Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) battles Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) and Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) for the ball as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Jeremy DowDell (2) pushes up a shot with Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) fouls Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars fans cheer after a Utah State Aggies offensive foul as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Sean Bairstow (2) dunks the ball as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) and Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) battle Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) for the rebound as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) grazes Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) across the face as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) defends Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) defends Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) defends Utah State Aggies guard Steven Ashworth (3) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Sean Bairstow (2) goes up for a shot with Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) defending as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) puts up a shot over Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) and Utah State Aggies forward Brandon Horvath (4) battle for the ball as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah State Aggies guard Sean Bairstow (2) tries to maintain control as he throws the ball ball back into play as BYU and Utah State play an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope congratulates Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) and Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) as they walk off the floor as BYU defeats Utah State in an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. BYU won 82-71. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
View Comments

Here are three keys to the Cougars’ win:

  • BYU hit 11 3-pointers, including three by Trevin Knell, who scored a season-high 13 points. 
  • The Cougars led by as many as 20 in the second half only to watch USU whittle the deficit down to seven with one minute remaining. BYU hit 6 of 6 free throws in the final minute.  
  • While Justin Bean scored a game-high 20 points for the Aggies, Alex Barcello finished with 17 while Te’Jon Lucas and Fousseyni Traore each had 14. Traore was 8 of 8 from the free throw line on the night.
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