BYU basketball: Cougars defeat Florida A&M 103-57

Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) dribbles around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Roderick Coffee III (1) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.

BYU has ended its non-conference schedule with a bang.

The Cougars earned a convincing 103-57 win over Florida A&M Friday night at the Marriott Center in their final contest prior to Big 12 play.

3 takeaways

BYU was just fine without Egor Demin and Richie Saunders. The Cougars will definitely need both players back healthy in the Big 12 gauntlet, but Kevin Young’s shorthanded unit was still very effective against the Rattlers.

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BYU shot 54% from the field, dished out 25 assists on 34 made shots and only committed 11 turnovers.

1 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Trevin Knell (21) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers guard Trey Lewis (3) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 2 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) grabs a rebound over Florida A&M Rattlers forward Roderick Coffee III (1) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 3 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers guard Jocobi Hendricks (23) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 4 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Elijah Crawford (2) drives on the Florida A&M Rattlers in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 5 of 24 Florida A&M Rattlers forward Shaqir O'Neal (8) and Brigham Young Cougars forward Brody Kozlowski (4) compete for a rebound in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 6 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers forward Jamine Charles (20) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 7 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars center Keba Keita (13) looks to shoot over Florida A&M Rattlers forward Saiyd Burnside (35) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 8 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars forward Kanon Catchings (6) hits a 3-pointer against the Florida A&M Rattlers in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 9 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers guard Jordan Chatman (2) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 10 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers forward Kaleb Washington (10) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 11 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young calls a play in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 12 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) dribbles around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Roderick Coffee III (1) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 13 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) tries to dribble around Florida A&M Rattlers forward Ja'Derryus Eatmon (24) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 14 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) hits a 3-pointer against the Florida A&M Rattlers in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 15 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars center Fousseyni Traore (45) shoots over Florida A&M Rattlers forward Tyler Shirley (22) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 16 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young calls a play in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 17 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers forward Kaleb Washington (10) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 18 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers guard Jordan Chatman (2) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 19 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars forward Kanon Catchings (6) hits a 3-pointer against the Florida A&M Rattlers in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 20 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars center Keba Keita (13) looks to shoot over Florida A&M Rattlers forward Saiyd Burnside (35) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 21 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Dallin Hall (30) drives on Florida A&M Rattlers forward Jamine Charles (20) in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 22 of 24 The BYU Cougarettes perform in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 23 of 24 Florida A&M Rattlers forward Shaqir O'Neal (8) and Brigham Young Cougars forward Brody Kozlowski (4) compete for a rebound in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 24 of 24 Brigham Young Cougars guard Elijah Crawford (2) drives on the Florida A&M Rattlers in Provo on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. BYU won 103-57. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Kanon Catchings was excellent. The talented freshman enjoyed the best outing of his collegiate career thus far, scoring 21 points on 66.7% shooting with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

If BYU can consistently get this version of Catchings during Big 12 play, the Cougars will become all the more formidable.

BYU’s defense had its best performance of the year. Sure, Florida A&M is no juggernaut, but holding an opponent to 32.7% shooting and forcing 18 turnovers is impressive no matter who you play.

Additionally, the Cougars won the rebounding battle by a 45-25 margin and allowed the Rattlers to hit just 29% of their 3-point attempts, committing just 13 total fouls in the process.

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