PROVO, Utah — Viktor Lakhin scored 17 points and Aziz Bandaogo had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead Cincinnati to a 71-60 victory over No. 12 BYU in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Saturday night.
Jizzle James also added 12 for the Bearcats (12-2, 1-0 Big 12), who won their fourth consecutive game after rallying from a halftime deficit for the second straight game.
Trevin Knell scored a career-high 27 points on a career-high nine 3-pointers to lead BYU. Dallin Hall added 10 points but no other player scored in double figures for the Cougars (12-2, 0-1), who lost at home for the first time this season.
After trailing by double digits late in the first half, Cincinnati erased the deficit after halftime with a 19-4 run. James scored three baskets during the run and Lakhin knocked down a 3-pointer to cap it, giving the Bearcats a 66-55 lead with 2:51 left.
BYU made just one basket over a nine-minute stretch to open the door for a Cincinnati rally.
Cincinnati dug itself an early hole. The Bearcats missed 10 of their first 11 shots from the field and went nearly seven minutes without scoring a point. Cincinnati also committed seven turnovers in that stretch.
Knell knocked down three 3-pointers to help BYU carve out a 13-5 lead midway through the first half. Building on the lead proved problematic for the Cougars who committed an uncharacteristic 12 turnovers before halftime.
Cincinnati chipped away at the deficit by getting to the free throw line and took a 19-18 lead when James capped an 8-0 run with a jumper.
BYU countered with three straight 3-pointers to fuel a 10-0 run. Noah Waterman’s outside basket punctuated the run and gave the Cougars their first double digit lead at 29-19.
BIG PICTURE
Cincinnati: The Bearcats stayed in the game by attacking the rim, getting to the free throw line and forcing turnovers. Cincinnati went 19 of 24 from the stripe and scored 17 points off 18 turnovers.
BYU: Knell’s hot shooting was the lone bright spot for the Cougars. BYU shot just 33% from the field and endured multiple prolonged shooting droughts.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Texas on Tuesday night.
BYU visits Baylor on Tuesday night.
