BYU will look to increase several winning streaks when Idaho visits Provo, Utah, on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars (3-0) hope to pick up their fourth win under new coach Kevin Young, while extending multiple home winning streaks. BYU has defeated 16 consecutive nonconference foes in a row at the Marriott Center and has won 21 straight at home in November, dating back to 2019.
In addition, the Vandals (1-2 this season) are 2-3 all-time against BYU. Their last win over the Cougars was a 42-41 victory at the Helms Foundation Invitational Tournament in Los Angeles on Dec. 29, 1947.
Dawson Baker led BYU to its most recent win on Wednesday, a 99-55 blowout against visiting Queens University of Charlotte. Baker scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and drained six 3-pointers.
Trevin Knell added 16 points, freshman Egor Demin scored 14 with five assists, and Utah transfer Keba Keita had another double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Young liked how his team responded in the second half after losing a bit of momentum — understandable considering the Cougars roared to a 28-2 lead.
“I think the biggest thing was that we got off to a good start,” Young said. “We had a lull in the second half, and I just wasn’t happy with our level of focus. We challenged the guys in the timeout to forget how much time there was on the clock, but I thought from that point forward it was a totally different game.
“I like the way our guys responded to being challenged,” he continued. “It was good to see some guys get going offensively. There was a lot to like.”
BYU shot 51.3 percent overall and outrebounded Queens 59-22.
Idaho comes in having lost two consecutive outings — 79-75 vs. UC Davis on Nov. 7 and Monday’s 90-67 setback at Washington State.
Junior guard Isaiah Brickner, a transfer from Marist College, topped Idaho with 13 points in his first start on Monday. Julius Mims contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds. But the Vandals couldn’t overcome shooting 36.5 percent and losing the battle of the boards, 45-29.
“The big thing for us was our physicality,” Idaho coach Alex Pribble told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. “They outrebounded us in a major way. And, you know, you can’t win on the road if you’re not going to rebound the basketball.”
