Demin shines in debut as BYU routs Central Arkansas 88-50 in opener
-
- BYU freshman Egor Demin soars in for a dunk in a men’s college basketball game against Central Arkansas at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
-
- BYU’s Richie Saunders grabs a rebound against Central Arkansas in a men’s college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
-
- BYU’s Kanon Catchings (6) dunks the ball during a men’s college basketball game against Central Arkansas at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
-
- BYU’s Egor Demin (3) goes in for a layup against Central Arkansas in a men’s college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
-
- BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young gives instructions during a game against Central Arkansas at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
-
- BYU’s Richie Saunders drives to the basket against Central Arkansas in a men’s college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
Is this what life is going to be like every night with Egor Demin?
Probably.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Cougars fans.
The 6-foot-9 inch freshman and projected NBA Lottery pick showed just about everything in his bag during his official BYU debut on Tuesday, totaling 18 points on 7 of 11 from the field (4 of 6 from the 3-point line) along with 11 assists, four rebounds and four steals in 30 minutes in Tuesday’s 88-50 victory against Central Arkansas.
The 11 assists were the most by a freshman in his first game since 1992 (Ryan Cuff with seven) and the most ever by a BYU player in a debut.
“I can’t say I was focusing on something, some exact thing,” Demin said. “I was just trying to be effective and first of all, stay physical since it’s my first game in the NCAA, right? I was just trying to be myself and enjoy the game.”
It was a night of stunning plays by Demin, but maybe his best was a steal and a runout that turned into a ferocious left-handed dunk in the second half, replayed over and over on the big screen in the Marriott Center.
“He’s unique,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “I think tonight we saw him being more aggressive as a scorer. He and I had a good conversation yesterday after practice about just him making the right play and so the other night in the exhibition game, him making the right play was not shooting and passing (11 assists), the way they were defending our team. “Tonight he saw some opportunities. They (Central Arkansas) were going under some of the screens and he made them pay. And his feel as a passer is so unique, especially with his size. I think the interesting thing with him is he can do a lot based on how the defense is playing us.”
Young, by the way, picked up win No. 1 of his college coaching career and the team celebrated in the locker room by presenting him with the game ball.
“I’m soaking wet right because the guys doused me with water, so I’m a little cold,” Young said in the post-game. “It was just fun to get the first one under my belt. Honestly, I felt like this day was never going to get here with how much lead up there was to the season for me. The nerves were definitely churning for me and the guys. But I was happy with the way we played. We got off to a bit of a slow start and maybe that’s to be expected, but I was happy with what I saw out there.”
Freshman Kanon Catchings tallied 17 points and Richie Saunders had 16, along with eight rebounds, for the Cougars. Mihailo Boskovic — who was officially cleared for eligibility a few days ago — came off the bench and scored 11 points for BYU, which finished at 46% (33-72) from the field and 34% (15 of 44) from the 3-point line. The Cougars had 21 assists and 33 made baskets and scored 24 points off of 18 Central Arkansas turnovers while grabbing 20 offensive rebounds.
Like most first games, the play was ragged early with the the two teams combining to take 13 3-pointers (out of 18 total shots) before the first TV time out.
Demin had a couple of 3-pointers in the opening few minutes and turbo-charged the BYU offense after a brief rest on the bench. The Cougars led 18-15 when Demin went to work, assisting on a 3-pointer for Saunders and a layup for Keba Keita. Demin drove, scored and was fouled for a 25-15 advantage. He missed the free throw but Keita, most astonishingly, performed a follow dunk from a standing start while being screened out, for a 27-15 lead.
The Cougars finished the half on an 11-1 run, getting triples from Trevin Knell and Demin, who also contributed another highlight with an alley-oop to Catchings.
BYU took a 46-23 lead at the break.
Demin and Saunders were the two most dynamic playmakers in the first half. The 6-foot-9 freshman led the Cougars with 13 points while handing out six assists and grabbing three rebounds. Saunders had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
The Cougars continued their roll to open the second half. Demin began the assault with another alley-oop to Catchings for a dunk, then assisted on 3-pointers by Catchings and Saunders. Demin’s 10th assist — a dime to Saunders for a triple — came with 13:50 to play and gave the Cougars a 64-31 advantage.
BYU played without starting point guard Dallin Hall, who is still being held out due to injury.
“Today was super fun,” said senior Trevin Knell, who scored eight points. “It was super fun to get in the Marriott Center and have a game count. We’ve been playing against each other for like, a year now, so it’s been great to compete against somebody without the name BYU across their jersey. I feel like we passed the ball really well today and really locked in on the defensive end in the second half. And I feel like that really grows a team. It’s kind of fun to have two freshmen that kind of do it all.”
The Cougars (1-0) host UC Riverside on Friday in the Marriott Center at 7 p.m. MT.
