BYU Pulls Out Gritty OT Win Over Colorado, But All Eyes Are on Richie Saunders
BYU’s 90-86 overtime win over Colorado had all the ingredients of a classic: clutch shot-making, high-stakes drama, and a test of depth in one of the toughest leagues in college basketball. But when the final buzzer sounded in Provo, the conversation wasn’t about the scoreboard. It was about the guy who wasn’t on the floor.
Richie Saunders-BYU’s emotional anchor and one of the most consistent two-way guards in the Big 12-went down just 45 seconds into the game. And suddenly, everything changed.
A Quiet Arena and a Tough Scene
It was BYU’s first trip down the floor. Saunders attacked the lane, made a clean kick-out to Keba Keita, and then collapsed under the basket.
No contact. No awkward fall.
Just a misstep and a veteran guard grabbing at his right calf in pain.
Trainers rushed over. The crowd held its breath. Saunders stayed down for several minutes before walking off under his own power, but the silence inside the Marriott Center told the story.
“It sucked the life out of the gym,” head coach Kevin Young said postgame.
And he wasn’t wrong. Saunders isn’t just a starter-he’s a tone-setter.
The kind of player who brings edge, experience, and calm in the middle of chaos. Losing that kind of presence, especially this time of year, is a gut punch.
What BYU Might Be Missing
Before Saturday’s injury, Saunders was averaging 18.8 points, six boards, and nearly two steals per game. He’s shooting close to 49% from the field and has been a driving force behind BYU’s rise into the Top 25.
More than that, he’s part of a three-headed monster alongside freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright III. That trio is combining for over 60 points a night-one of the most potent groups in the Big 12.
Last year, Saunders was named First-Team All-Big 12 and earned the conference’s Most Improved Player honors. He’s the guy who settles things when possessions get sloppy.
The guy who guards the other team’s best perimeter threat. The guy who makes the right read when the game speeds up.
You don’t just replace that with a clipboard and a pep talk.
Depth Tested, Depth Delivered
Still, give credit where it’s due-BYU didn’t fold. The Cougars absorbed the early emotional blow and found a way to grind it out.
Tyler Mrus and Aleksej Kostic stepped into bigger roles and delivered just enough. Each hit a pair of threes and finished with six points.
Not eye-popping numbers, but their minutes mattered. They kept the offense moving, spaced the floor, and gave BYU just enough breathing room to stay in the fight.
Colorado didn’t make it easy. The Buffaloes clawed their way into overtime, forcing BYU to dig deep on both ends. But the Cougars responded with timely buckets and just enough stops to close it out.
The box score will show a ranked team defending its home court. But the game itself?
It was anything but comfortable. This was a win built on resilience.
The Road Ahead
In February, every win counts. Especially in the Big 12, where the margin for error is razor-thin and tournament resumes are built possession by possession.
But Saturday’s game leaves BYU with a much bigger question than seeding or rankings: How long will Richie Saunders be out?
There’s no official update yet, and the Cougars will be hoping for the best. Because while Saturday showed they’ve got the heart and the depth to survive a scare, there’s no question this team is built around Saunders’ leadership and production.
They passed the test once. But if he’s out for an extended stretch, they’ll need to keep passing it-again and again.
For now, BYU walks away with a gritty win and a reminder of what it takes to compete in this league. But the real story is still unfolding.