Bold claim: BYU just toppled a top-10 giant, delivering a 79-69 upset over No. 6 Iowa State that could redefine how the season is remembered. And this is the part most people miss: the win wasn’t a fluke—BYU dominated in key moments and proved they can hang with elite teams.
Jackson has covered sports for the Deseret News since 2023, and this game at the Marriott Center will be remembered as a turning point for the Cougars.
Magic at the Marriott Center.
No. 23 BYU pulled off its most impressive victory of the year Saturday night, beating a ranked Iowa State squad and snapping a 0-6 skid against top-15 foes with a 79-69 triumph.
Record now: BYU is 20-7 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play.
Key takeaways
A pivotal 6:34 stretch before halftime changed the game's trajectory. When Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson buried a 3 to push the Cyclones ahead by one, BYU responded with a 13-0 burst that became the signature moment of the night. The stretch featured 10 points from AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright, plus contributions from Mihailo Boskovic and Khadim Mboup.
Iowa State went cold during that stretch, going 0-for-6 from the field and committing three turnovers, while BYU surged to a double-digit lead they would not surrender.
Down low, BYU controlled the boards and dominated in the paint. The Cougars outrebounded Iowa State 39-28, including 12 offensive boards. Mboup led the charge with 10 rebounds, nine of them in the first half. Dybantsa added 10 boards of his own, with Keita, Boskovic, and Kennard Davis Jr. chipping in six, five, and four respectively.
Inside scoring and paint efficiency were decisive. BYU logged 40 points in the paint to Iowa State’s 22, helping offset a 28% night from deep and a modest 1.25 points per possession against a stout Cyclones defense.
The metrics also favored BYU in transition and turnover creation. The Cougars scored 13 points off turnovers and 14 in transition, leveraging their pace to bend but not break against a top-10 defensive unit.
Standout performances
- Dybantsa delivered a breakout all-around night with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Even more valuable was his defense: he forced nine turnovers and limited Milan Momcilovic to just five points on 1-for-5 shooting.
- The supporting cast stepped up when it mattered most. With Richie Saunders unavailable, the rest of BYU filled the gaps and kept Iowa State from seizing control in the final minutes.
Why this matters going forward
- This win gives BYU a tangible marquee victory to credibly extend its NCAA tournament résumé and boosts belief that they can beat elite teams in March.
- Dybantsa’s performance could be a turning point for his freshman season, not only scoring at a high level but also contributing across the stat sheet and anchoring defensive assignments.
Question for readers: Do you think this BYU performance signals a genuine shift in their ceiling, or was it a standout night against a wounded opponent? Share your take in the comments: Is BYU now a legitimate threat in the chase for a deep tournament run, or should we wait to see them replicate this against other top-tier foes?
