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PROVO, UTAH –

AJ Dybantsa, a projected top-two pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, delivered a historic performance Saturday afternoon, scoring a career-high 43 points to lift No. 13 BYU to a 91–78 win over Utah at the Marriott Center.

Dybantsa added six rebounds and three assists, becoming the first Big 12 freshman to score 43 points in a game since Trae Young did it at Oklahoma in 2018.

The Brockton, Massachusetts, native shot 15 of 24 from the field, 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. He also became the first Cougar to score 40 or more points in a game since Chase Fischer’s 41 against New Mexico on Dec. 23, 2015.

“I mean, it feels good to break any record,” Dybantsa said. “Whether it was Danny or not.”

Robert Wright III provided a strong secondary punch, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. The sophomore transfer was a plus-13 in the second half, helping BYU close the game down the stretch.

Utah refused to go quietly. The Utes’ trio of Terrence Brown, Don McHenry and Keanu Dawes combined for 61 of Utah’s 78 points, as Utah shot 61.9% from 3-point range.

Dawes led the way with 23 points, knocking down 7 of 10 shots, including four 3-pointers, and going 5 of 5 at the line. Brown added 22 points and four assists, shooting 7 of 14 from the field.

First-year coach Alex Jensen’s squad fell to 9–11 overall and 1–6 in Big 12 play, with six of Utah’s losses this season coming by 10 points or fewer.

Saturday’s performance also highlighted a standout day for college basketball’s freshman class. Dybantsa and Houston freshman Kingston Flemings became the first Big 12 freshmen to score 40 or more points on the same day.

Earlier Saturday, Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 46 points in a road win over No. 4 Purdue, adding to what many believe could be one of the strongest freshman classes in recent memory.

“These freshmen are going crazy,” Dybantsa said. “I feel like we have a crazy class. I think we have one of the best classes in recent years.”

Next week looms large for BYU’s NCAA tournament positioning. The No. 1 team in the country, Arizona, will visit the Marriott Center on Monday, Jan. 26, entering the matchup 20–0. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST, with the game airing on ESPN.

Following the two-game homestand, BYU will head to Lawrence, Kansas, for a marquee matchup against No. 19 Kansas on Saturday, Jan. 31, where projected No. 1 pick Daryn Peterson and Dybantsa are set to face off at Allen Fieldhouse.

“It’s going to be great again,” Dybantsa said. “We’re going to focus on Arizona first. Kansas is a good team, and Allen Fieldhouse is a tough place to play, but we’re going in there looking for a win.”

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