Amid all the hype and excitement for BYU's new-look basketball squad, occasional growing pains should still be expected for a group continuing to learn to gel with one another.
Such was the case Friday night against UC Riverside , as the Cougars held on late for a 86-80 victory in front of 17,381 fans at the Marriott Center in Provo.
"It's good to be in a close game and try to grind something out, play the free throw game and just execute different things on both sides of the ball," BYU head coach Kevin Young told reporters after the game. "UC Riverside is a good team. We knew that tonight was going to be much different than our first game. They took Oregon down to the wire, so it was good for our guys to be in a situation like that."
There were plenty of reasons for the tight affair — including defensive lapses for the Cougars along with the overall doggedness of the never-say-die Highlanders — but none loomed larger than BYU's subpar shooting performance, making just six of 22 3-point attempts while missing 12 total free throws.
Conversely, UC Riverside connected on 39.3% of its attempts from behind the arc while making 19 of 23 foul shots.
"I am concerned about it, it's kind of been a common theme in some of these exhibition games," Young said of his team's cold spell from the charity stripe. "There's no real magic secret to it, you've just got to step up there and knock them down. We try to encourage our guys to shoot as many as they can, and we'll just keep working at it."
Brigham Young University head coach Kevin Young talks with guard Egor Demin (3) during a timeout in an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University center Keba Keita (13) blocks a shot from UC Riverside guard Barrington Hargress (24) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Elijah Crawford (2) drives the ball on UC Riverside guard Isaiah Moses (3) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Richie Saunders (15) lays the ball up while guarded by UC Riverside center Joel Armotrading (21) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University students cheer before an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Trevin Knell (21) and forward Kanon Catchings (6) slap hands before an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Egor Demin (3) passes the ball while guarded by UC Riverside guard Nate Pickens (11) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A Brigham Young University fan holds up a "Y" hand symbol during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Trevin Knell (21) is announced with the rest of BYU's starting lineup before an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
UC Riverside head coach Mike Magpayo calls out to his players during an NCAA men's basketball game against Brigham Young University held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
UC Riverside forward Kaleb Smith (2) backs down Brigham Young University forward Kanon Catchings (6) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Claire Roney, 22 months, claps as she stands in front of her parents Allison and Kaedon Roney, all of Provo, during an NCAA men's basketball game between Brigham Young University and UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Richie Saunders (15) brings the ball up the court during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Egor Demin (3) looks to pass the ball while he's guarded by UC Riverside guard Barrington Hargress (24) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University guard Egor Demin (3) passes the ball while guarded by UC Riverside center Joel Armotrading (21) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University students cheer before an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A young Brigham Young University fan dances as he sports a "Y" on a chain during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Cosmo the Cougar does a handstand during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Kanon Catchings (6) shoots the ball while guarded by UC Riverside guard Niyi Olabode (10) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University students cheer during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Kanon Catchings (6) dunks the ball against UC Riverside during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Richie Saunders (15) drives the ball toward the hoop while guarded by UC Riverside guard Barrington Hargress (24) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University center Keba Keita (13) talks with a teammate during a timeout in an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University center Fousseyni Traore (45) catches an inbound pass from guard Egor Demin (3) during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
A man sports a "Beat Utah" shirt ahead of tomorrow's Brigham Young University vs. University of Utah football game during an NCAA men's basketball game between BYU and UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
UC Riverside center Jack Whitbourn (12) takes foul shots as Brigham Young University students try and distract him during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) blocks a shot from UC Riverside center Jack Whitbourn (12) during an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University center Fousseyni Traore (45) prepares to take a foul shot during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) takes a foul shot during an NCAA men's basketball game against UC Riverside held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University students reach out to high-five players after BYU defeated UC Riverside in an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Brigham Young University center Fousseyni Traore (45) high-fives fans after BYU defeated UC Riverside in an NCAA men's basketball game held at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
"We've got to figure out each other, I think that's the first thing," added forward Richie Saunders, who provided 12 points and six rebounds in the contest. "But facing the adversity, we came out with a win, and I think that's the biggest thing. We have a lot of stuff that we've got to figure out or that we've got to improve on, and we will. We're new with each other, and that's why we've got these (non-conference) games."
Egor Demin followed his electric debut earlier this week with another strong showing Friday, leading the Cougars with 20 points and seven assists while adding five rebounds as well. The highly-touted freshman — still filling in for the injured Dallin Hall as BYU's primary facilitator — continued to impress with his flashy passing and seemingly effortless scoring, even ending the first half with a soaring, jaw-dropping dunk.
"He's really good," Young said of Demin. "To go 20 (points) and seven (assists) with only two turnovers against a really gritty team, it shows he's efficient. His scoring has been super efficient the last two games. He's a talented guy.
"I think it's really good for him to have to handle the load right now while we're down bodies and have to do it in a close game like this. I thought he made some massive plays down the stretch that really put it over the top for us."
While the outside shots weren't willing to fall, the Cougars made their living down low by scoring 48 paint points on the backs of big men Fousseyni Traore and Keba Keita. The pair of high school teammates and Mali natives combined for 27 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, with Keita recording the first double-double of his BYU career.
"He's always a brother," Traore said of Keita. "We played my senior year together at Wasatch Academy, so we just know how to play with each other. It's actually amazing."
Thanks to their success in the post, the Cougars shot 67.5% from 2-point range, dishing out 15 assists against 10 team turnovers. BYU also swiped seven steals, swatted seven blocks and won the rebounding battle by a 39-31 margin.
Talented freshman Kanon Catchings posted nine points, five rebounds and two blocks, while veteran guard Dawson Baker added eight points, two assists and a steal.
Aside from Demin's antics, Saunders provided the night's signature moment in the second half by sprinting the length of the floor to chase down opposing guard Nate Pickens for an emphatic block.
"I wasn't surprised, that's just who he is," Young said of Saunders. "It was a big play, this guy never quits on anything."
The Cougars now turn their attention for a clash with Queens next Wednesday in Provo in search of a third straight win — but not before a pretty intriguing rivalry football game this weekend.
"I think everybody will be glued into that," Young said of BYU's gridiron showdown with Utah Saturday night. "My kids are probably more excited than anyone. They've quickly caught onto the rivalry, they're all in on it. It'll be fun."
