Nate Pickens is settling into a key role for the BYU men's basketball team following a significant injury recovery. The 6-foot-3 fifth-year guard scored 15 points in a 98-82 victory against Queens University on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at the Marriott Center.
Pickens, who missed nearly 20 months of play due to a serious ankle injury that required surgery, contributed three of five from the 3-point line, two rebounds, and an assist in 19 minutes of play off the bench. His performance on Tuesday follows the team's season opener against Ohio State on Nov. 3, 2026, at the Delta Center.
BYU head coach Kevin Young stated that Pickens has earned the trust of his teammates and has done a job of adjusting his offensive repertoire to focus on spacing the floor, crashing the glass, and playing defense. Young noted that the team brought Pickens to the program because of his ability to guard players at their level and hit open three-pointers.
The BYU roster features significant changes this season, including only one returning starter, point guard Robert Wright III, and nine new players. Pickens previously played three years at UC Riverside, where he averaged 9.8 points per game during the 2024-25 season.
Another player, fifth-year guard Dawson Baker, is approaching a season debut. Baker, who suffered a knee injury last November, is expected to return to limited minutes soon. Coach Young indicated Baker could potentially play this Thursday against Montana State or next Wednesday against Northern Colorado before the Cougars travel for the Southwest Maui Invitational on Nov. 23-25.
BYU will face Montana State on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT at the Marriott Center. The Bobcats enter the matchup with a 1-1 record. The series between the two programs stands at 37-27 in favor of BYU, with the last meeting occurring in November of 1987.
The matchup between BYU and Montana State is scheduled for Thursday at the Marriott Center in Provo.
