Freshman Kanon Catchings scored a career-high 21 points to lead BYU to a 103-57 victory over Florida A&M on Friday night in Provo, Utah.
Catchings, a highly touted NBA prospect, hit 8 of 12 shots with four 3-pointers to help the Cougars (9-2) finish their nonconference schedule on a three-game winning streak. He added four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
BYU, which begins Big 12 play at home against Arizona State on Dec. 31, put together three double-digit runs and shot 54 percent in the rout of the Rattlers (3-7).
Dallin Hall totaled 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Dawson Baker scored 11, and Trevin Knell and Mawot Mag each added 10 points in the win.
Sterling Young scored 14 points off the bench for Florida A&M, which dropped to 0-7 on the road. Shaqir O’Neal, the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, and Jordan Chatman each had 10 points.
The Rattlers, who lost 89-59 at nearby Utah on Tuesday, jumped out to an early lead.
Chatman scored the game’s first points on a layup and then hit a 3-pointer during a game-opening 7-2 run.
Florida A&M, which shot 32.7 percent overall, then went ice cold, going scoreless for seven minutes between O’Neal buckets.
Meanwhile, BYU took advantage by storming out to a 17-point lead midway through the first half thanks to a 22-0 run. Six different Cougars scored during the spurt, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Baker.
O’Neal made a rare four-point play after being fouled while hitting a trey to make it a 15-point game moments later, but the Cougars responded with their second double-digit run.
Catchings and Hall hit consecutive 3-pointers to cap the run and put BYU up 38-13.
Catchings sparked a 15-0 second-half run with a pair of 3s and capped the surge with a dunk for a 66-23 lead.
BYU played without starters Egor Demin and Richie Saunders because of injuries.
–Field Level Media
