AJ Dybantsa sets BYU freshman record as No. 13 Cougars sweep season series with Utes

PROVO — AJ Dybantsa added to his list of accomplishments never before seen by a BYU freshman in men's basketball history Saturday afternoon.

Dybantsa set a BYU freshman record with a career-high 43 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists as the 13th-ranked Cougars beat Utah 91-78 in front of 18,224 fans Saturday afternoon at the Marriott Center.

Robert Wright III added 21 points, five rebounds and three assists for BYU, which bounced back from its first loss in Big 12 play at No. 12 Texas Tech to improve to 17-2 on the year and 5-1 in league play.

Richie Saunders scored 8 of his 12 points in the second half to help the Cougars pull away from a 5-point halftime lead to sweep their in-state rivals.

Terrence Brown had 22 points and four assists for the Runnin' Utes (9-11, 1-6 Big 12), and Keanu Dawes added 23 points and six rebounds.

But Saturday's performance on FOX was about Dybantsa, the projected NBA draft lottery pick in June who became the third freshman to score at least 40 points in a game on the same weekend.

Keaton Wagler went for 46 in No. 11 Illinois' 88-82 upset of No. 4 Purdue. Kingston Flemings had 42 in No. 12 Texas Tech's 90-86 home win over No. 6 Houston.

It's the third time at least three players on an AP-ranked teams have eclipsed the 40-point mark on the same Saturday in college basketball history, according to ESPN Research, and the first since Feb. 10, 1990.

The talented freshman class also includes top NBA prospects Cameron Boozer of Duke, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.

"I feel like we have a crazy class," Dybantsa said after the game. "I think we have one of the best classes in recent years."

Dybantsa is clearly in the top six of the group — and he's probably not sixth. At least, not in BYU freshman history.

His 43 points surpassed the mark of former BYU star (and current Utah Jazz executive) Danny Ainge, who had 36 points on Dec. 3, 1977 that included 17-of-20 made free throws.

Dybantsa got his at the line, too. But he also on a clinic, when the 6-foot-9 jumbo wing about a week shy of his 19th birthday shot 15-of-24 from the field, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and added 9-of-10 free throws to become the first BYU player to score 40 or more in a single game since Chase Fischer dropped 41 against New Mexico on Dec. 23, 2015.

"That was impressive," BYU coach Kevin Young said. "Why he was doing it? In my mind, he's just a special player. I think he's hand's-down the clear-cut No. 1 pick in the NBA draft upcoming, and tonight it was on full display.

"The thing I really liked about it was it was coming off his worst performance of the year," the second-year head coach added. "He wasn't good at Texas Tech, and came out tonight unfazed and had a clear want to just go out and dominate a game. He got going — and give credit to the team. The execution was probably as good as it's been all year."

The Cougars held rival Utah scoreless through the first media timeout, more than four minutes into the game, a combined 0-for-7 from the field to lead by as much as 6 early.

The Utes knocked down five in a row, including a McHenry's second 3-pointer of the afternoon to go up 24-23 with 8:01 left in the half.

But Dybantsa converted 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line for 19 points, and Wright added 13 to help BYU to a 42-37 halftime lead.

McHenry had 12 points in the first half for Utah, but did not score in the final 6:55 as BYU ended the half on a 16-9 run.

Throw the records out when these two rivals meet, even if BYU holds a 137-131 all-time meeting and hasn't lost to the Runnin' Utes at home since 2005.

But "second-half Saunders" had 8 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half, and the Cougars used a 14-3 run to push the lead to double digits with 9:56 to go.

Then it was about the chase for 40, which Dybantsa passed on a 3-pointer with 3:12 left that Wright set up before the capacity crowd clad mostly in royal blue erupted.

"I just wanted to see him get it," Wright said. "I know we talked about it before the game, but to see him go out there and get it today was a great feeling. I was so happy for him."

BYU hosts No. 1 Arizona on Monday night (7 p.m. MST, ESPN), while Utah returns home to host Oklahoma State next Saturday, Jan. 31 (4 p.m. MST, ESPN2).

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