It was a night to remember for BYU fans, players, and coaches.
Richie Saunders led the way with 22 points in just 30 minutes as BYU dominated No. 23 Kansas from start to finish in a 91-57 dominating home victory Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 fans.
Super senior Trevin Knell had 15 points, and Mawot Mag added 13 to help the Cougars (18-8, 9-6 Big 12) earn their third consecutive victory. The trio combined to hit 11 three-pointers in the game.
Hunter Dickinson led Kansas with 12 points, but the Jayhawks (17-9, 8-7) found themselves down by as many as 38 points in the second half.
BYU’s efficient shooting and tough defense led to the record-breaking performance. The Cougars shot nearly 52% from the field, while holding Kansas to just 36%.
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Kansas briefly threatened to close the gap after BYU went cold for several minutes in the first half, as Rylan Griffin’s three-pointer cut the deficit to 25-17. However, that’s as close as the Jayhawks would get as the Cougars responded with a barrage of threes, hitting five in the final six minutes of the first half to build a 46-26 lead at the half.
For Kansas, the defeat marked their second consecutive loss, the first time this season they’ve dropped back-to-back games. The 34-point loss matched their largest loss under head coach Bill Self.
And according to OptaSTATS, tonight marks the first time Kansas has lost by 30+ points to an unranked opponent since the AP Poll began in 1948-49. The Jayhawks were the only current Division I school that had never suffered a 30-point loss to an unranked team in the AP Poll era.
For the cherry on top, Kansas hasn’t led in either of their last two contests. The Jayhawks need to turn things around quickly or risk missing the NCAA Tournament altogether.
Here are all the reactions from the game:
BYU HANDS NO. 23 KANSAS THEIR BIGGEST LOSS OF THE BILL SELF ERA (tying USC in the 2021 NCAA Tournament) 🤯
A SPLATTERING IN PROVO. pic.twitter.com/O5EzloVLaW
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) February 19, 2025
KEEP STACKING DAYS. pic.twitter.com/7l5eaoXwxn
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 19, 2025
Didn’t think it would be better than last years when we were there, but alas. This was better
— Aaron Robinson (@aarondrobinson) February 19, 2025
Bill Self on BYU's performance tonight as the 34-point defeat ties the biggest loss in the Bill Self era:
“That’s the best anyone has ever played against us.”#BYU #BYUBasketball #GoCougs #Big12MBB #Kansas #RockChalk #CBB pic.twitter.com/pPjfrOlAJI
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) February 19, 2025
If this isn't the low point of the Bill Self era at Kansas, it feels pretty close.
BYU embarrasses the Jayhawks in Provo.
A THIRTY-FOUR POINT DEFEAT!
Ties the largest margin of defeat for this program under Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 19, 2025
BYU is an NCAA Tournament team. We saw why that should be the case today. Needed this win in a big way and got it.
Kevin Young has an elite offensive team and one of the best rebounding teams in the country.
Richie Saunders deserves more love too.
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) February 19, 2025
BYU 64, Kansas 33
Still 14 minutes left.
Incredible.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 19, 2025
I’d love to hear this Bill Self halftime speech.
Gonna make Rick Pitino’s look PG.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 19, 2025
Bill Self just used his final timeout with 14 minutes left.
Kansas is down by 31.
I've never seen KU hoops like this.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) February 19, 2025
Brigham!!! We call this… Belt 2 ASS against Kansas my goodness!!!
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) February 19, 2025
Man NIL really has evened the game!
BYU up by 20 at half to Kansas!!
— Kyle Collinsworth (@collinsworth55) February 19, 2025
Is that why #Kansas sucks now? pic.twitter.com/9qJENXM0zf
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) February 18, 2025
Are we about to 40-ball Kansas? 🤨😃 @BYUMBB
— Eric Mika (@erc95) February 19, 2025
There are roughly 20 NBA scouts and/or execs here in #PROvo tonight for the Cougars and Jayhawks. pic.twitter.com/Tyk841aSs2
— Justin Young (@JustinDYoung) February 19, 2025
Since joining the Big 12…
BYU football vs Kansas: 0-2
BYU basketball vs Kansas: 2-0 pic.twitter.com/ZVXlqsTAWt
— ROGUE MIKE (@CougMak) February 19, 2025
Best second half too lol
— Derek Paulson (@d_ford_p) February 19, 2025
I’ll be spending the next hour reading BYU basketball tweets. This is amazing
— Bill Wright (@bilywonka) February 19, 2025
Did Richie Saunders drive to California and train with John Beck during the offseason? @BYUMBB
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) February 19, 2025
Kansas killed BYU’s football season. This redemption by BYU basketball is oh so sweet!!!
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) February 19, 2025
welp pic.twitter.com/fABUwmvYtM
— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) February 19, 2025
congrats cougs. y'all deserved this. @byuROC looked lit. can't wait to visit this fall.
— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) February 19, 2025
There has never been an honor code violation like this. The entire BYU basketball team is molesting Kansas.
— Paul Sabin (@SabinAnalytics) February 19, 2025
Live view of BYU vs Kansas, for those who don't have ESPN. pic.twitter.com/tfvseQ5cIX
— Brigham's Burner (@FiredUpCoug) February 19, 2025
Mission accomplished.
Utah and BYU united to ruin the college basketball season for the state of Kansas.
🤝 https://t.co/g8fvrvND6E pic.twitter.com/59y1WBPwnL
— Glass Half Ute. (@GlassHalfUte) February 19, 2025
This team is getting better and better each week https://t.co/OlRm65hKSn
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) February 19, 2025
I know that this is not the Kansas team of just a few years ago, but man was that fun.
— HokieCoug (@azcavalier) February 19, 2025
history repeats itself pic.twitter.com/pQOGZqN8dS
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 19, 2025
34 point dub? Some might call it historic🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/KuruCLwREg
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 19, 2025
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