BYU bids to increase residence success vs. banged-up Baylor

There isn’t much separation between Baylor and BYU — at least on paper — as the teams square off on Tuesday night in Provo, Utah.

BYU has the fourth-best scoring offense (80.4) in the Big 12, while Baylor is right behind in fifth (79.9). BYU and Baylor check in at Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, in scoring defense, and both teams are among the league’s top 3-point shooting teams. BYU averages the most made triples per game (10.6) and Baylor ranks third (9.2).

On top of that, both teams have the same overall record and are riding two-game winning streaks.

BYU (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) cruised to an 80-52 win over Cincinnati on Saturday to improve to 10-1 at home this season.

The Cougars impressed from long range with 15 3-pointers, including five by Richie Saunders and three each by Egor Demin, Trevin Knell and Kanon Catchings. BYU drained 11 3-pointers in its previous game, an 83-67 victory over Colorado in Boulder, Colo., on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of good shooters,” Cougars coach Kevin Young said. “That’s two games in a row that we’ve shown we are very capable of getting a lot of 3s. We’re playing with a little bit more halfcourt movement, making guys chase us a little bit more, which has helped get guys off us and gets us a little bit more space to get shots off.”

Baylor (13-6, 5-3), meanwhile, is coming off a 76-61 victory at Utah on Saturday. Norchad Omier (22 points, 12 rebounds) and VJ Edgecombe (21 points) had standout performances, but the Bears are dealing with a short-handed roster.

Langston Love (ankle) has missed the last seven games, and Jeremy Roach (concussion protocol) has missed the last two. Love and Roach are considered day-to-day going into the BYU game.

Baylor coach Scott Drew called the Bears’ depleted roster, coupled with foul trouble throughout the Utah game, a “double whammy.”

“That’s not a recipe for success, but I thought our guys really competed and battled,” Drew said. “Really proud of them.”

–Field Level Media