Takeaways From BYU’s Blowout Loss At Cincinnati
Feb 8, 2025, 7:43 PM | Updated: Feb 10, 2025, 5:27 pm
BYU basketball lost at Cincinnati 84-66 in their first trip to Cincy since 1931.
The loss is BYU’s second consecutive setback.
Banking in Cincinnati hoops💸
BYU vs. Cincinnati Highlights🎥👀#Big12MBB | @GoBearcatsMBB pic.twitter.com/P3YKzRjPL0
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) February 9, 2025
Here are some takeaways from the defeat out East.
Rebounding has to improve for BYU basketball
Cincinnati outrebounded BYU 32-17 in Saturday’s loss. For the second consecutive game, BYU’s opponent had 15 more rebounds than the Cougars. No surprise BYU is 0-2 in its past two outings.
Cincinnati shot 63% from inside the arc and 50% from three. But what’s noteworthy is that BYU only had three offensive rebounds. BYU was 24-of-51 from the field. There were plenty of opportunities to get more rebounds, but Cincinnati wanted it more.
“I thought they (Cincinnati) were the tougher team tonight,” said BYU coach Kevin Young on the BYU Sports Network postgame. “I think sometimes, you know, as coaches, we want to scheme for everything, but you know, sometimes it’s just between you and the guy that’s in front of you. And I thought tonight, they kind of wanted some of those toughness plays more than we did. That part is disappointing because we talk about rebounds ad nauseum with our group, so we’ve got to be better there.”
BYU’s poor start in the second half sunk them
BYU was down by nine points with nine minutes left in the first half, yet they went into the halftime break with a three-point lead. The Cougars close the first half similar to how they did against Cincinnati in Provo with an Egor Demin three. This time on Saturday, Demin’s three resulted in a four-point, putting BYU in front 42-39 at the break.
Then, seven minutes into the second half, BYU was down by 17.
Cincinnati opened the second half on a 22-2 run that only included two 3-pointers. It was a balanced effort from the Bearcats, who attacked BYU’s 2-3 zone with midrange jumpers from Day Day Thomas and Josh Reed getting downhill.
The lineup with Boskovic and Stewart provided a spark
Desperately looking for answers from somebody, Kevin Young turned to seldomly used center Mihailo Boskovic and guard Trey Stewart, along with reserves Kanon Catchings, Dawson Baker, and Dallin Hall, to provide a spark off the bench.
Cougs on a 6-0 run after back-to-back threes from Kanon and Mihailo 👌 pic.twitter.com/81j2p53y1z
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 9, 2025
Stewart and Boskovic provided that. The senior guard Stewart knocked down a three, then Boskovic hit a Euro step to get to the rim. Then Boskovic had an assist to Dawson Baker for a three, Kanon Catchings knocked down a corner three, and Boskovic hit another three to cut Cincinnati’s lead to eight.
Cincy head coach Wes Miller called a timeout with 8:04 remaining and the Bearcats leading 66-58.
Kevin Young rode the hot hand, keeping BYU’s reserves that included Boskovic and Stewart on the floor.
Once the deficit was down to single digits, it looked like a perfect opportunity to get Richie Saunders and Egor Demin back on the floor. But Young stuck with the lineup, which got them in the position to be only down eight.
Out of the timeout, Cincinnati quickly made adjustments on the defensive end and got some buckets from Day Day Thomas and Dan Skillings to build the lead back to 16 and put it out of reach for good.
But the minutes Stewart and Boskovic provided show that they could be considered for minutes if players in front of them in the rotation are not performing at a high level.
Add Jizzle James to a list of guys who show up against BYU basketball
Cincinnati sophomore guard Jizzle James was one point shy of a career-high. He finished with 24 points and had a career-high six 3-pointers against BYU.
Last season, James scored 12 points in an upset win at BYU in Provo. Earlier this season, he scored only six points in the BYU win in Provo. However, in two of his three games against the Cougars, he’s becoming a player who shines against them.
He can join the list that includes Oklahoma State’s Jamyron Keller, former Baylor standout Jalen Bridges, Khalil Shabazz and Colbey Ross from the WCC days, and Darington Hobson from a long time ago when BYU was in the MWC.
The Big 12 continues to prove it’s a gauntlet
The Big 12 is proving to be a gauntlet once again. Anyone can take you down on any given night. Cincinnati looked to be down and out at the midway point of league play at 2-8; now, they’ve found some momentum with two consecutive victories.
Then, on Saturday, you look around the league. Houston had a tough win at winless Colorado, while Kansas State upset Kansas in Manhattan. Anything can happen in this league on any given night.
Time is ticking for BYU basketball to rack up wins, as they are now 6-6 in the league.
“Every night is a night that can go either way. So that part definitely makes it fun. It makes it excruciating at the same time, just the joy of winning is great and the agony of losing. But that’s part of being able to manage this thing,” said Kevin Young. “We have a good opportunity at hand to go stay on the road against West Virginia who’s got a dynamic guard (Javon Small), who’s going to be a handful for us. And we’ve got to find a way to slow him down.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
