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ROVO, Utah — BYU desperately needed a signature win for morale and the resume, and the Cougars delivered Saturday night in a 79-69 home win over No. 6 Iowa State at the Marriott Center . The victory came just hours after the NCAA Tournament selection committee revealed its top 16 seeds, with Iowa State positioned as a No. 1 seed .
🌟 Dybantsa’s Masterclass
Freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa was spectacular once again, playing all 40 minutes and flirting with a triple-double: 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists on 10-of-17 shooting . His defensive effort was equally impressive—he chased Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic off screens all night, holding the Big 12’s premier marksman to just 1-of-4 from three-point range .
Dybantsa’s near-triple double marked the latest chapter in a historic freshman campaign. He now holds BYU’s single-season freshman scoring record .
📊 Balanced Attack Lifts Cougars
While Rob Wright III was quiet with just 6 points, BYU received critical contributions across the roster :
- Kennard Davis Jr.: 17 points on 3-of-8 from deep, including a rim-rocking dunk in the final minutes that sent the sellout crowd of 18,978 into a frenzy
- Mihailo Boskovic: Career-high 13 points in his second consecutive start, including an ice-breaking three with 1:30 remaining that pushed the lead to 73-63
- Khadim Mboup: 10 rebounds off the bench—9 of which came in the first half—providing a massive spark inside
💪 Paint Dominance and Key Runs
Despite shooting just 7-of-25 (28%) from three-point range, BYU controlled the interior . The Cougars outscored Iowa State 40-22 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 39-28 .
BYU built a 13-0 run late in the first half, with Rob Wright III bookending the surge with a pair of layups that put the Cougars up 37-25 . The Cyclones cut the deficit to 57-54 with 7:21 remaining, but Dybantsa and Davis answered with consecutive baskets at the rim, sparking a 13-3 run that sealed the game .
Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 19 points, while Joshua Jefferson added 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists . The Cyclones fell to 23-4 overall and 10-4 in Big 12 play .
📈 What It Means
The victory marks BYU’s first Quad 1A win of the season and their first over an AP Top-10 team at home since defeating No. 2 Gonzaga in 2020 . The Cougars improve to 20-7 overall and 8-6 in the Big 12 .
“It’s the first win for BYU over an AP Top-10 team at home since the Cougars defeated No. 2 Gonzaga in 2020,” noted KSL Sports .
⏭️ Up Next
BYU returns to action Tuesday night when they host UCF at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. MST on ESPN2, with the Cougars asking fans to wear black for a “blackout game” .
