Richie Saunders - College Basketball News & Rumors | FOX Sports

Excelling in starting role Saunders finished Saturday's 95-71 win over Idaho with 26 points (10-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-3 FT), four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and four steals across 30 minutes.

Impact Saunders scored 17 of his season-high 26 points in the second half as BYU pulled away from Idaho. The junior forward drained four threes and shot 10-15 (66.7%) from the floor while contributing all over the court, including adding three blocks and four thefts on the defensive end. Saunders played 20.6 minutes per game last season while coming off the bench for all but one of 34 games played, averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds. This year, he's entered the starting lineup and through four games has leaped to 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks across 27.5 minutes per contest.

NOVEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Contributes 16 points, eight boards Saunders accumulated 16 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes during Tuesday's 88-50 win over Central Arkansas.

Impact Saunders earned the starting nod after having started just three games over his first two seasons with the Cougars, posting 16 points and eight rebounds. It will be interesting to follow how the rotation shakes out when point guard Dallin Hall returns, but whether starting or coming off the bench, Saunders will be an integral part of the BYU rotation. Saunders averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds across 20.6 minutes last season and will look to expand upon all of those numbers this season.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

BYU guard Richie Saunders withdraws from transfer portal Saunders will not follow Mark Pope to Lexington.

APRIL 26 • 247SPORTS.COM

Traore inside, Saunders outside lead No. 20 BYU to 87-73 win over UCF in Big 12 Tournament

Fousseyni Traore had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Richie Saunders scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and No. 20 BYU beat UCF 87-73 in the second round of the Big 12 Tourna...

MARCH 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moves to starting lineup Saturday Saunders is in the starting lineup to face Texas Tech on Saturday.

Impact Saunders will step into the first unit due to the absence of Noah Waterman (undisclosed). This will be Saunders' first start of the current campaign. He's averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game since the start of December.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Richie Saunders scores career-high 20 points to help No. 18 BYU beat Georgia State 86-54

Richie Saunders scored a career-high 20 points to help No. 18 BYU beat Georgia State 86-54 on Saturday night for its second straight victory

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Solid play in reserve role Saunders closed Tuesday's 96-55 victory over Evansville with nine points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-5 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 18 minutes.

Impact BYU continues to dominate their opponents allowing Saunders to be one of nine players to see 15 or more minutes of action on the night. The sophomore wing has been consistently productive off the bench with 9-12 points and three-plus boards in all but one game in addition to four games of three or more assists and three games with multiple steals.

DECEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back to bench Thursday Saunders is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Loyola Marymount, Greg Wrubell of BYU Athletics reports.

Impact Saunders made a spot start last Saturday against St. Mary's with the Cougars missing a couple of key players due to suspensions. The 6-5 freshman went scoreless in the start but has seen his role increase over the past four games, averaging 5.3 points and 1.5 rebounds over 18.5 minutes per contest during that span. He should still play a key role off the bench, as the Cougars look to end a three-game losing streak.

FEBRUARY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to starting lineup Saunders will start Saturday's game against St. Mary's, Greg Wrubell of BYU Athletics reports.

Impact Saunders will make just his second start of the season, which comes after Jaxson Robinson was suspended for the game. Saunders has averaged 14.5 minutes per game on the campaign, posting 5.2 points and 2.7 boards.

JANUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moves back to bench Saunders isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Creighton, Greg Wrubell of BYU Athletics reports.

Impact Saunders will be replaced by Noah Waterman in the starting five Saturday. Saunders failed to score in his sole start of the season during Wednesday's game.

DECEMBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Unimpressive across game started Saunders ended Wednesday's 75-60 loss to Utah Valley with zero points (0-3 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes.

Impact Saunders failed to make any of his field goals attempted Wednesday. The guard will try redeeming himself as BYU's 2022-23 season continues. Fortunately for Saunders and the team, he is a freshman who has enough years to improve his output.

DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets start for Cougars Saunders will get his first career start for BYU against Utah Valley o Wednesday night.

Impact Saunders has been a regular contributor as a true freshman this season, and he'll get his first career start early in the season as a result. Saunders is averaging 14.1 minutes per game with 4.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists.

DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE