Kanon Catchings had a perfect 8-for-8 night from the floor, hitting four 3-pointers in a 23-point performance, and BYU pulled away for a 93-89 overtime victory over Baylor on Tuesday in Provo, Utah.
Catchings, a freshman, topped his previous career high of 21 points set against Florida A&M on Dec. 20.
Richie Saunders scored six of his 17 points in overtime for the Cougars (14-6, 5-4 Big 12), who won their third game in a row. Egor Demin contributed 15 points and six assists, and Trevin Knell scored 11.
VJ Edgecombe poured in 28 points for Baylor (13-7, 5-4), who had won its previous two games. Robert Wright III added 22 points and six assists, Norchad Omier had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Jayden Nunn logged 11 points.
Saunders and Omier fouled out late in overtime.
The Bears were playing short-handed with Langston Love (ankle) and Jeremy Roach (concussion protocol) sidelined. It showed in the final stats as BYU outscored Baylor 45-7 in bench points.
The Cougars led by as many as 13 points in the first half and kept a lead until there were 4.3 seconds left in regulation. That’s when Baylor pulled even at 78-78 on a pair of free throws by Wright.
The game headed to overtime as BYU couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer, as Dallin Hall knocked down a deep 3-pointer after time expired. However, the Cougars scored the first five points of the extra period, taking an 83-78 lead on a 3-pointer by Hall.
Baylor pulled within 87-86 on a 3-pointer by Edgecombe with 2:15 left, but BYU extended its lead on free throws by Saunders and Demin to make it 91-86 with 1:11 to go. Demin went to the line after being fouled by Omier, who fouled out on the play.
Baylor sliced the deficit to 91-89 with 11 seconds left when Edgecombe hit 1 of 2 at the foul line. BYU sealed it with two free throws by Dawson Baker with 6.3 seconds left in overtime.
–Field Level Media
