BYU forward Fousseyni Traore recorded a career-high 24 points while guards Jaxson Robinson and Richie Saunders hit four threes apiece as the 22nd-ranked Cougars (16-5, 4-4) overwhelmed the West Virginia Mountaineers (8-14, 3-6) Saturday evening 86-73.
West Virginia point guard found center Jesse Edwards for an alley-oop in the opening seconds of the contest for the first points of the evening.
The Mountaineers would lead by as many as four points in the first half, but midway through the half and with West Virginia leading by one, BYU guards Richie Saunders and Jaxson Robinson buried threes to take a five-point lead, 22-17.
West Virginia tied the game twice, but the Cougars ended the half on a 9-0 run to take a 38-29 lead into halftime.
Guard Spencer Johnson started the scoring for the Cougars in the second half with a three and buried his third of the evening moments later as BYU built a 56-39 lead at the 13:44 mark.
West Virginia guards Kerr Kriisa began an 11-2 run with a three, and guard RaeQuan Battle got the crowd back into the game with an emphatic alley-oop to get the Mountaineers within eight, 58-50, near the midway point of the second half.
The Mountaineers cut the deficit to six after a floater from guard Seth Wilson, but Saunders responded for the Cougars with a three to push the lead back to nine with six minutes remaining in the game.
Battle would get West Virginia within five, but BYU guard Tevin Knell hit a three, followed by Jaxson Robinson extended the Cougars lead back to double digits as the Cougars coasted to a 86-73 victory.
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