BYU Triumphs Over Iowa State
In a thrilling encounter on Saturday evening, the No. 23 Brigham Young University (BYU) secured a significant 79-69 victory against the highly ranked No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones, marking their first win over a Top 10 team this season. AJ Dybantsa delivered an outstanding performance, contributing nearly a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, while teammates Kennard Davis, Jr. and Mihailo Boskovic added 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Game Highlights
The Cougars dominated the paint, outscoring Iowa State 40-22, and also held an advantage on the boards with a 39-28 rebound margin. Iowa State, which entered this game with a commendable 23-4 record and the recent distinction of being named a No. 1 seed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, faced their fifth Top 10 defeat Saturday. Tamin Lipsey was the standout for the Cyclones, leading his side with 19 points, supported by Jamarion Batemon’s 14 and Joshua Jefferson’s near double-double of 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Crucial Moments
The game saw tense moments, particularly when Iowa State reduced a sizeable lead to just three points, following a 3-pointer from Lipsey that made it 57-54 with 7:21 left on the clock. However, Dybantsa and Davis swiftly responded with consecutive layups, igniting a crucial run for BYU that surged their lead to 70-57 with only 3:33 remaining.
Earlier in the game, BYU also showcased their offensive prowess with a 13-0 run right before the halftime break, which included two layups from Rob Wright III that extended their lead to 37-25. Throughout the first half, the Cougars showed relentless aggression towards the basket, which led to a staggering 22-6 scoring advantage in the paint.
Looking Ahead
Next up for Iowa State is a matchup away at Utah on Tuesday night, while BYU will host UCF on the same evening.
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