TEMPE, Ariz.— So, 35.8 points per game.
That is the amount of production that Arizona State was missing on Wednesday night in the 10-point loss to BYU.
Three Sun Devils starters — Jayden Quaintance, Alston Mason, and BJ Freeman— were unavailable due to injury, illness, and permanent dismissal, respectively.
As a result, coach Bobby Hurley was forced to turn to freshman Trevor Best and walk-on Bobby Hurley Jr., who had combined for just five points all season.
When asked about the impact of these absences Hurley said, “the team managed with only six and a half players, showing resilience and effort.”
BYU capitalized on the depleted Arizona State lineup, erupting for 91 points on 55% shooting, while knocking down 17 3-pointers. The 17 made threes tied for the fourth-most in a single game in program history.
BYU has now won 27 straight games when scoring at least 90 points.
Four Cougars finished in double-figures, led by Richie Saunders and Trevin Knell, who combined for 44 points and 11 3-pointers.
Saunders scored 20-plus points for the third consecutive game, becoming the first BYU player to do so since Yoeli Childs in December 2018.
It marked Saunders’ 10th 20-point game this season, with BYU improving to 9-1 in those games.
Egor Demin also found ways to contribute despite struggling from the field, finishing 1 of 6 but dishing out 10 assists.
With that mark, he became BYU’s 2nd all-time leader in assists by a freshman, surpassing former Cougar Randy Reid (1992-93).
The Cougars will return to Provo with hopes of extending their five-game win streak when they face West Virginia on Saturday.