BYU outlasts Iowa State in high-scoring thriller

Richie Saunders recorded 23 points and five assists and Fousseyni Traore added 15 points to help No. 17 BYU produce a 96-92 victory over No. 12 Iowa State on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Big 12 championship in Kansas City, Mo.

Trevin Knell made all four of his 3-point attempts while scoring 14 points as fourth-seeded BYU (24-8) won its ninth straight game. Mihailo Boskovic added 10 points for the Cougars, who will face either top-seeded Houston or 16th-seeded Colorado in Friday’s semis.

Curtis Jones sank a career-best seven treys and scored 31 points for the fifth-seeded Cyclones. Milan Momcilovic added 18 points and Joshua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson scored 14 points apiece for Iowa State, which lost to the Cougars for the second time in 10 days.

The two squads combined for a Big 12 tournament record 31 3-pointers — BYU made 18 of 36 while the Cyclones hit 13 of 30. The old record was 27.

Iowa State played without Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert due to groin injuries.

The Cyclones shot 56.1 percent from the field, but attempted just seven free throws (making five).

The Cougars were 18 of 21 from the line and made 51.7 percent of their field-goal attempts.

BYU led 89-84 after two free throws by Saunders with 3:09 remaining.

Momcilovic drove the baseline for a hoop and Jones hit two free throws to bring Iowa State within one with 1:15 to play.

Saunders then drained a 3-pointer with 48.9 seconds left to give the Cougars a 92-88 lead.

Saunders then blocked Momcilovic’s 3-point attempt with 38 seconds left and BYU soon pushed the lead to six while closing it out.

The Cyclones led 72-64 after Jackson’s layup with 12:46 left before BYU scored 11 straight points. Dallin Hall made a 3-pointer and Traore scored in the interior before Boskovic buried two treys to give the Cougars a 75-72 lead with 9:41 to play.

Nate Heise made a tying 3-pointer for the Cyclones with 9:19 left in the contest.

Both teams knocked down 10 3-pointers in a high-octane first half that concluded with Iowa State holding a 53-49 lead.

Jones made six treys in a span of 3:54 and scored 22 points in the first half. Knell and Traore each scored 11 in the half for the Cougars.

BYU controlled the first eight minutes and held a 25-15 lead after Dawson Baker’s 3-pointer.

The Cyclones scored 31 of the next 43 points to take a nine-point advantage.

Iowa State led 49-39 after a 3-pointer by Momcilovic with 3:08 left.

–Field Level Media