PROVO, UT — No. 11 BYU didn’t just survive an upset bid; they powered through it. Freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa dropped 25 points in 33 minutes to lead the Cougars to a 76-70 comeback victory over TCU on Wednesday night. The win extends BYU’s dominant streak to 13 consecutive games, moving them to a perfect 4-0 in Big 12 play.
The Second-Half Surge
The Marriott Center was stunned early as the Cougars struggled to find their rhythm, trailing 36-30 at the break after shooting a cold 1-of-11 from deep. Then, the projected top NBA prospect took over. Dybantsa poured in 17 of his 25 points in the second half, spearheading a 9-0 run that flipped the momentum for good. He wasn’t just scoring; he was attacking. Two aggressive finishes through heavy contact highlighted a night where he also grabbed 6 rebounds.
Support came from Richie Saunders, who netted 18 points, and Robert Wright III, who nearly notched a triple-double with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. While TCU’s Xavier Edmonds fought back with 19 points, the Horned Frogs ultimately crumbled under BYU’s late-game defensive pressure, led by Keba Keita’s game-sealing block with just over a minute remaining.
Locker Room Talk
“We knew the first half wasn’t us. In the second, we just focused on playing our brand of basketball—aggressive and fast. My teammates found me in the right spots, and we just stayed the course.” — AJ Dybantsa, BYU Forward
Big 12 Standings & What’s Next
This victory keeps BYU (16-1) firmly at the top of the Big 12 conference alongside powerhouses like Houston. Their ability to grind out wins when the perimeter shot isn’t falling is a scary prospect for the rest of the league. TCU drops to 11-6 and faces a tough road ahead as they look to snap a three-game losing skid. The Cougars now look toward a high-stakes matchup against No. 15 Texas Tech, where Dybantsa’s draft stock will likely face another massive test on the national stage.
