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PROVO, Utah –

T.J. Otzelberger’s struggles against BYU continued Saturday night.

No. 23 BYU defeated No. 6 Iowa State 79-69 at the Marriott Center, dropping Otzelberger to 1-5 all-time against the Cougars, dating back to his tenure at UNLV.

Freshman AJ Dybantsa led the way with 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and nine assists, finishing one assist shy of a triple-double.

Kennard Davis Jr. provided the complementary spark BYU needed.

Coach Kevin Young said in media availability earlier in the week that “unlocking him” would be critical.

Davis delivered. The SIU transfer scored 17 much needed points, along with securing four rebounds.

He wouldn’t be the only one who was crucial. Senior Mihailo Boskovic also unleashed.

“He’s had great practice. He’s got to be able to carry things over from practice to the court,” Young said on the pregame show with Greg Wrubell, the Voice of the Cougars. “There’s no getting around it. The guy’s a key for us because he can shoot, he can rebound. He has to be able to produce when the lights come on. That’s the bottom line.”

The native from Užice, Serbia, scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and hit his only free-throw attempt, giving the Cougars timely production on both ends.

Dybantsa and Rob Wright controlled the game with efficiency and endurance. Both played all 40 minutes, combining for 13 assists against just three turnovers against one of the nation’s top defensive units. Iowa State entered the game leading the country in turnovers forced per game.

Keba Keita was efficient inside, finishing 4 of 4 from the field with six rebounds. Keita averaged 8.0 points and 12.5 rebounds in two meetings against Iowa State last season.

The turning point came midway through the second half when Milan Momčilović picked up his fourth foul with 9:21 remaining. BYU responded with an 11-3 run to build separation.

Iowa State did not go quietly. Tamin Lipsey scored 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds and three assists to keep the Cyclones within striking distance.

High-scoring games against Otzelberger’s teams have been rare. Entering Saturday, Iowa State had allowed 85 or more points just five times during his tenure. BYU has accounted for three of those performances, scoring 87, 88 and 96 in previous Big 12 victories over the Cyclones.

Free-throw shooting has been a challenge for Iowa State. The Cyclones entered the game ranked 344th nationally in free-throw percentage. No issues during the games they shot 78.9% in the game against the Cougars.

With the win, BYU improved to 20-7 overall and 6-6 in Quad 1 games, securing its third consecutive 20-win season.

The Cougars return to the Marriott Center on Tuesday to face UCF in a Quad II matchup. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

This article was brought to you by Ortho Pros of Utah.