The Cougars improved to 4-0 on the season Thursday night with an 86-71 victory over Montana State at the Marriott Center.
3 takeaways
BYU continued its early offensive success. The Cougars may have scored a season-low 86 points, but when it takes four games to score fewer than 90 points, your operation is clearly elite.
BYU also failed to shoot 46% from 3-point range after doing so in each of its first three games, but hitting 41% of its shots from deep is still pretty excellent.
The Cougars shot 58% from the field and averaged 1.3 points per possession, with four different players scoring in double figures and 10 players on the board in total.
If there’s one area BYU could have been much better against Montana State, it was free throws — the Cougars missed 11 of 24 attempts for charity.
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BYU Cougars forward Jaxon Kohler (0) jumps to shoot for the basket during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) reacts after the BYU Cougars scored during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) and Montana State Bobcats forward Jaden Steppe (44) both go for the basketball during a men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young coaches during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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A fan celebrates after winning $1,000 by participating in a game on the basketball court during a timeout during a men’s basketball game between the BYU Cougars and the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State Bobcats head coach Matt Logie coaches during a men’s basketball game against the BYU Cougars held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars fans cheer during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars fans cheer during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Collin Chandler (5) cheers from the bench during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) cheers from the bench during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) cheers from the bench during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Jake Wahlin (10) celebrates with his fans after the BYU Cougars’ victory against the Montana State Bobcats in a men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The BYU Cougars celebrate their victory against the Montana State Bobcats in a men’s basketball game at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) celebrates after the BYU Cougars’ victory against the Montana State Bobcats in a men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars fans cheer during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Bruce Branch III (3) walks on the court before a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State Bobcats guard Darnez Slater (0) reaches for the ball during a men’s basketball game against the BYU Cougars held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Bruce Branch III (3) walks on the court before a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Collin Chandler (5) runs to shoot the ball during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) reacts after scoring during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The BYU Cougars take on the Montana State Bobcats in a men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Dawson Baker (25) jumps to shoot a basket during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young coaches during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) dribbles the ball down the court during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) jumps to shoot for the basket during a men’s basketball game against the Montana State Bobcats held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State Bobcats guard Jed Miller (24) takes control of the ball during a men’s basketball game against the BYU Cougars held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Cougars won the rebounding battle. Interestingly enough, BYU had already bounced back twice this season before Thursday. If the Cougars want to reach their full potential, this can’t be the norm.
Luckily for Kevin Young and company, BYU had success on the glass against Montana State, grabbing 38 boards to the Bobcats’ 30.
Khadim Mboup, Tyler Betsey and Jaxon Kohler each had six rebounds, while Bruce Branch added five including two on the offensive glass.
It was good to see Dawson Baker back in action. 350 days after suffering a serious knee injury, BYU’s “shooter” returned to the court Thursday, playing eight minutes and receiving a loud ovation from the Marriott Center crowd each time he entered the game.
Baker scored two points, grabbed two rebounds and had a steal, with the Cougars posting a defensive rating of 77.0 when he was on the floor.
It may take some time for Baker to return to peak form, but just having him in the rotation makes BYU a much deeper team with his skills and veteran feel.
