BOSTON — BYU starting center Keba Keita left Saturday’s 86-84 loss to UConn after suffering a first-half injury and did not return.
Keita took a hard hit to his head and shoulder area after colliding with Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. while chasing a loose ball. He needed to be helped off the court with 8:51 left in the first half and went to the locker room with a trainer.
BYU coach Kevin Young said after the game he did not have an update on Keita’s injury or status moving forward.
“It was determined pretty quickly that he was not going to return,” Young said.
Keita has started 39 of 40 games since transferring from Utah to BYU in 2024 and is the Cougars’ best defensive player. He played a crucial role in the team’s season-opening win over Villanova this season, posting 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Keita was averaging 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds entering Saturday.
No. 7 BYU was struggling to slow down No. 3 UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. on the post with Keita on the floor, and that became even more pronounced once Keita left. Reed had seven points in the 7:45 and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Young also said that starting wing Kennard Davis, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Thursday following a crash in Provo, Utah, was held out for a violation of team rules and the length of his suspension is to be determined.
UConn led by as many as 20 points in the second half before holding on for the two-point win.