BYU began 2025 with a tough Big 12 road game, facing a dominant No. 14 Houston team that controlled the matchup from start to finish.

Houston cruised to an 86-55 victory at the Fertitta Center, marking their 30th straight win on their home court. This 31-point loss was BYU’s worst defeat since falling to Gonzaga by 33 points in Provo three years ago.

BYU struggled mightily against Houston’s top-ranked defense. They committed 15 turnovers and were outmatched on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 37-24. Houston’s defensive intensity set the tone early, forcing mistakes and capitalizing on BYU’s errors.

Houston was unstoppable from three-point range, sinking 16 shots from beyond the arc. Emmanuel Sharp led the way with 18 points, hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers. BYU’s top scorer was Trevin Knell, who managed 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three, but he was the only BYU player to score in double digits. Freshmen Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings combined for just nine points in the game.

The game started rough for BYU. On their first two possessions, they committed a shot clock violation and an offensive foul. Egor Demin provided a brief highlight with a reverse layup for BYU’s first points, but turnovers quickly became a problem. BYU gave the ball away five times in the first seven minutes, leading to 11 quick points for Houston.

Trevin Knell tried to keep BYU in it with two early three-pointers, but missed opportunities—like open shots from Dawson Baker and Knell himself—kept them from closing the gap. Houston led 19-12 midway through the first half and continued to dominate.

BYU’s struggles extended to rebounding, as Houston grabbed offensive boards at will. Despite some flashes of defensive stops, like Kanon Catchings’ block that set up a fastbreak layup for Richie Saunders, those moments were rare. Houston built a commanding 32-19 lead late in the half.

By halftime, BYU had more turnovers (10) than field goals (8). They also fell far behind in rebounding, getting outrebounded 20-12 overall and 10-3 on the offensive glass. Houston took full advantage, scoring 17 points off turnovers. Trevin Knell led BYU at the break with nine points, while Houston spread the scoring among all eight players who saw the court.

In the second half, BYU showed brief signs of life as Dallin Hall and Richie Saunders each hit threes. However, Houston answered every time. Emmanuel Sharp, playing through a recent foot injury, knocked down two threes despite foul trouble, extending Houston’s lead to 46-29 early in the half.

Houston continued to pile on with efficient shooting and relentless rebounding. LJ Cryer drained a three after an offensive rebound by J’Wan Roberts, and soon after, Milos Uzan and Cryer hit back-to-back threes to force another BYU timeout. The lead ballooned to 29 points as BYU had no answers on either end of the floor.

Houston stayed hot from long range, hitting seven of their first ten threes in the second half. BYU’s deficit grew to as much as 31 points, with Houston dominating in all aspects of the game. The Cougars in blue simply couldn’t keep up with Houston’s firepower or physicality.

BYU now looks to regroup as they head back home to face Texas Tech on Tuesday, January 7, at the Marriott Center. The game tips off at 7 p.m. (MST) and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and KSL NewsRadio.

This game served as a stark reminder of the challenges BYU faces in navigating their new Big 12 schedule, particularly against elite teams like Houston.