BYU Basketball Pulls Out Gutsy Win Over NC State

On Friday night, the BYU basketball team pulled out a gutsy win over NC State to win the Vegas Showdown. The Cougars, who are now 6-0, handed the Wolfpack their first loss of the season.

BYU bounced back from multiple setbacks to beat NC State. The Cougars were without big man Atiki Ally Atiki who was serving a suspension for an altercation in the game against Arizona State. That wasn't the only absence from the BYU frontcourt. In the first half, BYU star big man Fousseyni Traore left with an injury and did not return to the game.

BYU also overcame a slow start in the first half. The Cougars trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before trimming the lead to five at halftime. Once the Cougars settled down in the second half, they dominated the game.

Aly Khalifa, who has missed the last few games due to injury, returned to the lineup and played very well for the Cougars off the bench. Khalifa led all players in +/- with +18 in 27 minutes played. Khalifa's passing opened up BYU's offense - he had five assists to go along with his five points and nine rebounds. Without Traore and Atiki, Khalifa was critical in this game.

Jaxson Robinson was the player of the game. Robinson had a career high 23 points. 15 of his 23 points came in the second half. In one critical sequence, Robinson assisted a Dallin Hall three before scoring five consecutive points to extend BYU's lead. The Cougars never looked back and went on to win 95-86.

Five BYU players scored in double figures against NC State. Jaxson Robinson (23), Noah Waterman (15), Dallin Hall (13), Trevin Knell (13), and Spencer Johnson (11).

Next week, BYU takes on Fresno State in the Delta Center.

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