BYU is hot and cold in much-needed win vs Oklahoma State

After a lackluster start to Big 12 play which resulted in a three-game losing streak, the Cougars bounced back in a 85-69 win over Oklahoma State that still left a lot of questions unanswered.

If you turned the game off at halftime, you would have assumed that BYU pulled away with a comfortable victory, but there was a time when everyone in the Marriott Center was gritting their collective teeth.

Photo by Wilson Gustaveson

Up by as many as 27 points in the first half, Oklahoma State cut the lead to three just six-and-a-half minutes into the second half.

In the first half, the Cougars had 12 assists, which was only two less than what they averaged in their three-game losing streak. But in those first six and a half minutes of the second half, BYU only had one assist and turned the ball over three times.

Oklahoma State had all the momentum and it seemed that BYU could very well turn its three-game skid into four, but the Cougars managed to regain a comfortable lead off the back of a struggling Egor Demin.

Halfway through the second half, Demin was scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting, and chipped in a few turnovers as well. It was emblematic of how he has played so far in Big 12 play.

But just when it looked darkest for the Russian NBA draft hopeful, Demin scored 10 points in four minutes, and got the offense back on its feet.

This was Demin's best stretch in Big 12 play, and showed why at one point he was projected to be a top-five pick in the draft.

The problem for BYU is that these moments of Demin's brilliance don't show up as often as they need to.

BYU's other draft hopeful freshman, Kanon Catchings, had his second straight game with less than ten minutes played. He had zero points and sat most of the game in foul trouble.

"He's going through it a little bit right now," coach Kevin Young said about Catchings. "I think it's part of being a young guy and having to learn. He hasn't sulked, he hasn't pouted, he's still working hard and I expect big things from him."

Young has been experimenting a lot with lineups, whether it is playing Mawot Mag over Catchings, or staggering Demin's and Dallin Hall's minutes, it is still unclear which lineup gives BYU the best shot at winning.

Tuesday night, BYU veterans Trevin Knell and Dallin Hall stepped up big. Knell led the team in scoring with 18 points and four 3-pointers, and Hall chipped in a season-high 14 points.

The last two games have been a big answer for Hall, as he finally seems to be clicking with Demin as the team's two floor generals.

"We needed a win," Young said. "I live in reality ... we were on a three-game skid."

While this game gets BYU a much needed win, its shaky play that led to a near 30-point collapse still has Cougar fans on the edge of their seats. There can't be any more three-game losing streaks if the Cougars want a shot at the NCAA Tournament.