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PROVO, UTAH –

 

Big Monday proved to be a big challenge for BYU, as No. 1 Arizona (21-0, 8-0 Big 12) remained unbeaten with an 86-83 win over No. 13 BYU (17-3, 5-2 Big 12) on Monday night at the Marriott Center.

The Wildcats extended their winning streak to 21 games, holding off an 11-4 run by the Cougars in the final minute to secure the road victory.

BYU had a chance to tie or win in the closing seconds, but Robert Wright III’s attempt fell short as time expired, handing the Cougars their first home loss of the season. It marked the second time this year Wright narrowly missed a potential game-winner, after a similar late attempt against UConn.

Still, the sophomore guard has delivered repeatedly this season. Over his last five games, Wright is averaging 22.8 points, shooting 50% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, and 95% from the free-throw line, while adding 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Coach Kevin Young had no second thoughts about the ball being in Wright’s hands.

“We’re going to live and die with those guys,” Young said. “There were two options on that play. The first was AJ, but Arizona did a great job taking it away, so it ended up with Rob.”

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries delivered the decisive performance, scoring 29 points in “the house that Jimmer built.” The 6-foot-4 guard from San Bernardino, California, shot 7-of-13 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 13-of-14 from the free-throw line, while adding five rebounds and four assists.

Burries, a five-star recruit, was rated the No. 1 player in California, the No. 2 combo guard, and the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2025 class.

He wasn’t alone. Jaden Bradley added 26 points, shooting better than 66% from the floor, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists. Bradley scored 17 points in the first half, and at one point, he and Burries combined for 41 points, matching BYU’s total at the time.

For BYU, AJ Dybantsa scored 24 points, doing most of his damage at the free-throw line, where he went 11-of-16, while shooting 25% from the field, his lowest mark of the season.

A bright spot for the Cougars was Kennard Davis Jr. After missing 19 consecutive 3-point attempts entering the game, Davis went 0-of-3 in the first half but caught fire after the break. He knocked down all five of his 3-point attempts in the second half, scoring nine of his 17 points in eight minutes and finishing 6 of 6 from the field.

BYU will look to carry that momentum on the road as it faces No. 19 Kansas in a Top-25 matchup at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. MST in Lawrence, Kansas, marking BYU’s first appearance on College GameDay.

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