3 keys to BYU’s 87-75 come-from-behind win over TCU
Fouss Traore and Trevin Knell combine for 41 points as BYU overcomes a 17-point halftime deficit to down the Frogs
View 51 Comments
Share
BYU's Dallin Hall and Jaxson Robinson high-five as the Cougars play the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. BYU won in comeback fashion, 87-75 BYU Photo
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.
NEW: Try Article Audio
NEW: Try Article Audio
Audio quality:|
00:00
00:00
1.0x
00:00/00:00
-
+
BYU looked dead in the water after a miserable first half in its first game back since upsetting No. 7 Kansas.
But the Cougars put together a remarkable rally in the second half with 58 points and downed TCU 87-75 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,978 at the Marriott Center on Saturday night.
TCU led 46-29 at halftime but cooled off considerably in the second half and the Cougars surged ahead, using a 15-0 run early in the second half to get back in the game.
Special Collector's Issue: "1984: The Year BYU was Second to None"
Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football's 1984 National Championship season.
The win moved BYU (9-7, 21-8) into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12 with two regular-season games remaining. TCU fell to 8-8 and 19-10.
1 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) and Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) walk off the court with their arms around each other following their 87-75 victory in the college men’s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
2 of 16
BYU's Dallin Hall and Jaxson Robinson high-five as the Cougars play the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. BYU won in comeback fashion, 87-75 | BYU Photo
3 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars players react excitedly from the bench during the second half of the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
4 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) dribbles the ball down the court with TCU Horned Frogs guard Avery Anderson III (3) on defense during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
5 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars forward Fousseyni Traore (45) defends TCU Horned Frogs guard Trevian Tennyson (11) on the shot during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
6 of 16
The Brigham Young Cougars student section cheers during the second half of the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
7 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) shoots the ball with TCU Horned Frogs forward JaKobe Coles (21) on defense during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
8 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Spencer Johnson (20) holds the ball with TCU Horned Frogs guard Trevian Tennyson (11) on defense during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
9 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Mark Pope yells during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
10 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) dribbles the ball with TCU Horned Frogs guard Avery Anderson III (3) on defense during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
11 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) passes the ball with TCU Horned Frogs forward JaKobe Coles (21) attempting to block it during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
12 of 16
TCU Horned Frogs forward Chuck O'Bannon Jr. (5) kicks the ball out of bounds after it was passed out of the hands of Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
13 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars forward Atiki Ally Atiki (4) shoots a layup during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
14 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) smiles during the second half of the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
15 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars go out of the second half trailing 46-29 during the college men’s basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
16 of 16
Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) shoots the ball with TCU Horned Frogs guard Avery Anderson III (3) on defense during the college men’s basketball game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 2, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Here are three keys to BYU’s come-from-behind victory:
• Trailing by 17 at halftime, its largest halftime deficit of the season, the Cougars found some energy in the second half, while TCU seemed to lose its stamina in the thin air of Provo. BYU went on a 15-0 run to get back in it, then watched TCU regain the advantage with a 7-0 run.
51
Comments
However, BYU had more energy in the final 12 minutes to get the win going away.
• BYU turned to its bread-and-butter — 3-point shooting — to make the largest comeback of the Mark Pope era. After going 1 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half, the Cougars were 8 of 15 from deep in the second half. Conversely, TCU was 7 of 10 from deep in the first half and 1 of 6 in the second half.
• TCU had a 21-2 advantage in fast break points early in the second half, but the easy points dried up for the Frogs, while BYU started to get some of its own. TCU finished with a 21-9 advantage in fast break points as BYU closed the gap.
In the latter half of the second half, BYU’s bench was the difference, as Richie Saunders (11 points) and Fouss Traore (21 points) took over. BYU’s bench scored 41 points, to 29 for TCU’s bench.
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.
