TUCSON, Ariz. — Brigham Young University’s hopes for an upset came up short as they faced off against the fourth-ranked Arizona Wildcats Wednesday night. The Cougars fell 75-68 at the McKale Center, leaving them with a season record of 19-7 and a 7-6 mark in Big 12 play.

Entering the final minute of the first half, BYU appeared poised to remain competitive. They had even led for a brief stretch and narrowed Arizona’s advantage to one point with just over a minute left. However, a quick response from Arizona’s Anthony Dell’Orso, who sank a three-pointer, shifted the momentum back in the Wildcats’ favor after a turnover by BYU’s Keba Keita allowed for an easy fast-break layup.

The Cougars tried to claw back, trimming a 16-point deficit to just five in the second half. But, similar to the first half, they were unable to sustain that momentum and ultimately succumbed to a seven-point loss.

Shooting from beyond the arc proved problematic for BYU. To upset a team like Arizona, the Cougars needed a strong performance from three-point territory, yet they could only connect on five of 19 attempts, translating to a mere 26%. In contrast, Arizona excelled, landing nine three-pointers at an efficiency rate of 43%. After a slow start, the Wildcats shifted gears, hitting eight of their last 13 attempts from deep.

The absence of standout player Richie Saunders was noticeable for BYU, as AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright III combined for a stellar 48 points. However, the rest of the roster struggled mightily, contributing just 20 points overall. The bench’s performance was particularly concerning, managing only six points in a combined 55 minutes of play. Mihailo Boskovic, who started in place of Saunders, failed to convert any of his three attempts and finished with a minus-six rating in 11 minutes.

Aleksej Kostic and Tyler Mrus also had disappointing nights, combining for just one basket and two turnovers. While Kennard Davis Jr. did manage to score 10 points, those contributions came solely in the second half when the team needed them most.

As the Cougars reflect on this challenging match, they will seek to regroup and build on what they learned against a formidable Arizona squad as they look forward to their upcoming contests.