Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) defends Georgia State Panthers guard Julian Mackey (3) as BYU and Georgia State play on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) defends Georgia State Panthers guard Julian Mackey (3) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
By Tom Ripplinger

No. 18 BYU again looked its ranking Saturday at the Marriott Center in an 86-54 victory over Georgia State — a game that pushed the Cougars to double digit wins on the year. 

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The triumph gives the Cougars their best start to a season in 13 years and extends the school’s home win streak to eight consecutive games dating back to last year. 

  • BYU sixth man and leading scorer Jaxson Robinson went down with an injury midway through the first half, however the Cougars hardly missed a beat. Sophomore forward Richie Saunders helped fill the void left by Robinson, pacing the school’s scoring and pouring in a new career high off the bench with 20 points. 
  • For the seventh time this season, senior guard Spencer Johnson led the Cougars in assists. The school’s leading assist man finished the evening with seven of BYU’s 23 assists.  
  • Georgia State entered Saturday’s contest with the 19th best 3-point defense in the country, holding opponents to 27.2% on the year. BYU’s impressive 3-point shooting was hardly affected, the Cougars finishing the night with a 39.5 percentage from beyond the arc on 15 made 3s.  
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) drives on Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) battles Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) and Georgia State Panthers center Edward Nnamoko (21) as he goes back up with a rebound as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) and Georgia State Panthers guard Lucas Taylor (31) battle for the ball as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) defends Georgia State Panthers guard Julian Mackey (3) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) stops and loses defender Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) and Georgia State Panthers guard Rickey Bradley Jr. (4) wrestle for the ball as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) passes the ball with Georgia State Panthers forward Jamaine Mann (2) defending as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) drives on Georgia State Panthers guard Dwon Odom (1) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Georgia State Panthers guard Rickey Bradley Jr. (4) reaches in on Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) as he drives toward the hoop as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Noah Waterman (0) dodges Georgia State Panthers forward Jamaine Mann (2) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) goes up for a shot attempt as he gets past Georgia State Panthers guard Brenden Tucker (5) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope calls out to his players as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Noah Waterman (0) looks for an open teammate with Georgia State Panthers guard Julian Mackey (3) trailing behind as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars center Aly Khalifa (50) spins toward the basket with Georgia State Panthers guard Lucas Taylor (31) defending as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) teases teammates on the bench as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) drives at the hoop as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) drives toward the hoop after faking out Georgia State Panthers guard Dwon Odom (1) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars cheerleaders entertain the fans as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Georgia State Panthers guard Brenden Tucker (5) and Brigham Young Cougars guard Jared McGregor (51) battle for the loose ball as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Trey Stewart (1) congratulates Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) as he comes out of the game as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) pulls the ball back as he tries to fake the defenders as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) drives around Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo claps as he entertains the fans as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) shoots over Georgia State Panthers center Edward Nnamoko (21) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU and Georgia State talk during at a timeout as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) flies toward the hoop with Georgia State Panthers center Edward Nnamoko (21) defending him as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) gets ahead of Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) in the lane as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) defends Georgia State Panthers forward Leslie Nkereuwem (23) as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Georgia State Panthers forward Jay'Den Turner (10) reaches for the ball as he and Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) battle as BYU and Georgia State play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. BYU won 86-54. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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