Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) goes up for a layup as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Dick Harmon
By Dick Harmon

BYU used a furious defensive effort in the middle of the game and blistering outside attack to advance to the third round of the National Invitational Tournament Saturday night with a 90-71 win over Northern Iowa in the Marriott Center.

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Here are three keys to BYU’s win.

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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) looks at the basket as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) goes up for a layup as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) passes the ball to Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope celebrates after winning over the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) high fives with fans after winning over the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) looks at the basket as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) shoots a 3-pointer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) yells after scoring a 3-pointer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) dribbles as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Gideon George (5) goes up for a layup as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope high fives with fans after scoring 27 points and winning over the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Traore Fousseyni (45) and Northern Iowa Panthers guard Tywhon Pickford (3) fight for a ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) shoots as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) drives on Northern Iowa Panthers guard Tywhon Pickford (3) as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Alex Barcello (13) goes up for a layup as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Northern Iowa Panthers forward Noah Carter (35) defends Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Northern Iowa Panthers guard Bowen Born (13) fouls on Brigham Young Cougars forward Caleb Lohner (33) as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope yells at the referee after a foul by the Cougars as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) celebrates his 3-pointer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Te'Jon Lucas (3) goes up for a layup as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) and Northern Iowa Panthers guard Trae Berhow (11) fight for a ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Northern Iowa Panthers in an NIT game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 19, 2022. BYU won 90-71. | Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
  • Senior forward Gideon George scored 18 first-half points and made five straight shots in the second half to lead the Cougar scoring barrage. He finished with 27 points to lead BYU in scoring and added six rebounds.
  • Senior Cougar guard Te’Jon Lucas executed an impressive dribble penetration attack to both score and set up teammates in one of his best games of the year. Lucas finished with 14 points and eight assists on a night Alex Barcello needed a sidekick to make plays.
  • With senior point guard Barcello starting 1 for 5 from behind the arc and making just 1 of 8 for the game, teammates George (5 treys), Trevin Knell (5), Caleb Lohner (2) and Spencer Johson (2) effectively picked up the outside shooting with 16 from distance. Northern Iowa, known for its potent 3-point shooting, had 16 against St. Louis in the first round of the NIT and 11 in the loss Saturday.
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