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BYU forward Fousseyni Traore (45) is defended by West Virginia center Jesse Edwards, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.

Kathleen Batten. AP Photo

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BYU guards Trevin Knell (21) and Jaxson Robinson (2) react during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.

Kathleen Batten. A{ Photo

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BYU guard Jaxson Robinson (2) is defended by West Virginia guard Seth Wilson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.

Kathleen Batten/AP Photo

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BYU coach Mark Pope instructs his team in a huddle during a Big 12 men's basketball game at West Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Fousseyni Traore (45) shoots over West Virginia's Jesse Edwards during a Big 12 men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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The BYU basketball team celebrates a Big 12 men's basketball win against West Virginia in the locker room on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU sophomore guard Dallin Hall greets a young Cougar fan after a Big 12 men's basketball victory at West Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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Fous was on the loose.

No. 22 BYU made its first trip to Morgantown since 1947 on Saturday without big man Aly Khalifa, who stayed in Provo due to illness. Khalifa’s passing keys much of the Cougars offense so they needed to turn to junior Fousseyni Traore against a dangerous West Virginia team.

Traore was terrific, scoring 24 points on 10 of 15 from the field. He added nine rebounds and three assists as BYU held off a second-half charge by the home team for an 86-73 victory at WVU Coliseum on Saturday.

“It was a lot more burden on Dallin (Hall),” Cougar coach Mark Pope told the BYU Sports Network. “Aly essentially functions like a point guard and is a creative playmaker for us. That takes a lot of pressure off a Dallin. The onus goes on Dallin where he has to be much more creative and he was magical. Then Fous, of course, was a beast. So that was everything we needed to do to get out of here with win tonight.”

Hall added: “Fous just went crazy out there.”

Hall went a little nuts, too, posting a career-high 12 assists and just one turnover in 35 minutes. It was the first time a BYU player had double-digit assists since Alex Barcello totaled 10 against Texas Southern on Dec. 21, 2020.

Traore’s excellence helped BYU establish a 17-point second half lead, much of that going away as the Mountaineers made a charge. The Cougars had a couple of defensive lapses and WVU guard Kerr Krissa made a trio of 3-pointers as the home team pulled to within five, 70-65, with 5:26 to play.

BYU got big 3-pointers from Trevin Knell and Jaxson Robinson, then an offensive rebound by Traore turned into another triple from Robinson for a 79-67 lead with 3:10 remaining. A basket inside from Traore and a step-back 3-pointer by Hall were the clinchers, making it an 84-70 advantage with 1:25 on the clock.

On a team that has relied on depth, Saturday was Traore’s turn to come up large.

“It’s kind of been that way all year,” Hall said. “It’s the ‘next man up’ mentality. That’s what’s fantastic about this team is we’ve got guys one through 16 that can really play the game of basketball. They’re ready and they’re anxious for opportunities so when things like this happen, I think guys are just ready to step up. Just what Fous had to shoulder tonight with us missing Aly, I mean, I can’t even tell everyone how big that was for us.”

Richie Saunders added 17 points for the Cougars, making 4 of 6 from beyond the arc including a banked triple to beat the shot clock in the second half. Spencer Johnson had 15 points and Robinson 12. BYU was 13 of 36 from the 3-point line (36%) but had a couple of hot streaks — 5 of 8 to close out the first half and 6 of 9 to finish the second — in earning an important Big 12 road win.

Kriisa led West Virginia (8-14 overall, 3-6 Big 12) with 23 points and made 5 of 10 from the 3-point line. Jesse Edwards had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Mountaineers, which had previously beaten then-No. 3 Kansas, Texas and Cincinnati at WVU Coliseum.

“BYU is excellent at reading the defense,” West Virginia coach Josh Eilert said. “They are excellent at making the extra pass. They play really good team basketball and when they’re clicking, they’re clicking. Their ball movement was as good as we’ve seen all year. They see a defensive miscue and they take advantage of it. BYU made us pay for all of our defensive mistakes.”

The Cougars surrendered two dunks to open the game but rallied behind Traore, who scored the Cougars first eight points and had 12 in the first half. West Virginia took a 13-8 lead on a 3-pointer from RaQuan Battle but an 8-2 BYU run, keyed by a pair of Knell baskets and a Traore block that turned into a fast break hoop for Johnson, pushed the Cougars into a 16-15 lead. BYU went on an 8-0 burst to end the first half, with a Traore dunk and a pair of 3-pointers from Saunders, to take a 38-29 lead into the break.

BYU extended its lead to 17 points, 56-39 on a 3-point play by Saunders with 13:44 to play before West Virginia made its move.

“Fous knew coming into this game he was going to have to carry a massive load against one of the elite centers in this league,” Pope said. “What Jesse (Edwards) did against Cincinnati … we played Cincinnati. They’re huge and their front line was really tough for us. Jesse rolled out of there with 25 (points) and 10 (rebounds). Fous loves stepping up to the challenge and he was terrific tonight.”

The Cougars (16-5, 4-4) will remain on the road for Tuesday’s game at No. 23 Oklahoma.

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