MSG magic: BYU’s Wright hits buzzer beater in epic comeback victory vs. Clemson
-
- From left, BYU’s Robert Wright III , AJ Dybantsa and Keba Keita react after defeating Clemson an NCAA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.
-
- BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) makes the game winning shot against Clemson guard Efrem Johnson (4) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.
-
- BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots over Clemson forward Jake Wahlin (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.
-
- BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) blocks the shot of Clemson center Carter Welling (22) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.
-
- BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) drives to the basket between Clemson forward Chase Thompson (3) guard Zac Foster (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.
-
- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa (3) goes in for a layup against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU head coach Kevin Young (right) and fans react to a made 3-pointer against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU and Clemson men’s basketball teams meet at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- Fans react to a 3-pointer from BYU’s Robert Wright III (center) that beat the final buzzer in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU’s AJ Dybantsa dunks against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU’s Keba Keita (13) dunks against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young yells instructions to his players against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU’s Robert Wright III (right) hugs assistant coach John Linehan after a 67-64 victory against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU players celebrate a 67-64 victory against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- Workers fix the backboard at Madison Square Garden after a dunk by BYU’s Keba Keita against Clemson on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU players celebrate a 67-64 victory against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
-
- BYU men’s basketball coach Kevin Young, right, celebrates a 67-64 win against Clemson with Robert Wright III in the locker room at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Venerable Madison Square Garden, one of most iconic arenas in the world, opened in 1968 and has seen plenty of great basketball games in its 57 years of existence.
There probably aren’t many that can top what happened Tuesday night between No. 10 BYU and Clemson.
Robert Wright III brought the dialed-in crowd to its feet by hitting a running 3-pointer to beat the final buzzer, capping an remarkable second-half comeback as the Cougars topped the Tigers 67-64 in the Jimmy V Classic.
BYU trailed by 22 points with 19:50 to play then outscored Clemson 45-20 the rest of the way for the largest second half comeback in school history.
“I told the team we’ve been here before,” said Cougar freshman AJ Dybantsa, who scored 22 of his career-high 28 points in the second half. “There’s been multiple games where we’ve been down 20. It’s just a pace for us and when we run we can blow teams out of the gym.”
Clemson tied the game at 64-all with 5.4 seconds to play on a basket by Dillon Hunter. BYU called time out, advanced the ball from the end line to the front court and called another time out with 1.3 seconds remaining.
Mahailo Boskovic triggered the inbounds play from the sideline, feeding Wright on the run from the backcourt. Wright split two defenders, leaning into a 3-pointer that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded. His teammates raced onto the floor and celebrated with Wright in the corner of the court.
“I told Miha (Boskovic) if nobody else was open just hit me,” Wright said. “I never had a buzzer beater that’s a three. That was the first one. The play, AJ wasn’t open. He was getting double-teamed. That told me I’ll be coming back to the ball. He just trusted me, and the shot went in.”
Dybantsa was spectacular in the second half and absolutely took over as a playmaker in the final eight minutes, scoring nine points and dishing out four assists. He perfectly executed back-to-back, pick-and-roll alley oops to Keba Keita for dunks and BYU took a 55-54 lead with 3:15 to go. The Cougars got out to a 62-56 advantage when Dybantsa drove the middle and threw down a soaring one-handed dunk with 1:08 remaining.
“I was just being myself,” Dybantsa said. “I’m an all-around player and I just want to showcase that.”
Clemson wasn’t done, though, because Wright missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with a two-point lead and 13.4 seconds on the clock. Hunter raced down the floor and banked in a layup for the tie to set up the final moments.
Dybantsa also logged career bests in rebounds (nine) and assists (six). Wright ended up with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“It’s amazing,” Wright said. “He (Dybantsa) is a special talent and an even better person, so it’s great to play with him.”
Keita contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals to make up for a tough night from Richie Saunders, who scored just five points on 2 of 11 from the field and 0 for 7 from the 3-point line.
BYU shot 53.3% in the second half (16-30) after making just 28% (9 of 32) in the first half.
I thought it was just the look in their eye got different,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “I thought we were kind of blank and a little lifeless in the first half, honestly. I challenged the guys to come out more with a competitive spirit. I thought it showed its head more on the glass. They hurt us quite a bit. That’s a big, strong physical team. I thought our guys responded, just our trench warfare mentality was much better in the second half.”
Wright made a 3-pointer with just under seven minutes to play in the first half to forge a 22-22 tie but Clemson finished on a 21-0 run, sinking shots from all over the court while BYU came apart offensively and missed ten straight from the field. BYU clanked two open looks in the final minute and trailed 43-22 at halftime.
The Tigers led 44-22 early in the second half after making a free throw, only to see BYU go on a 20-3 blitz to roar back into the game.
Jestin Porter led Clemson with 17 points, 14 in the first half, and made 5 of 9 from the 3-point line. Former Utah Valley standout Carter Welling finished with nine points and six rebounds. Jake Wahlin, who played at Timpview and originally committed to BYU before serving a church mission, contributed one point and four rebounds.
BYU (8-1) took advantage of a final chance to raise its NET ranking until Big 12 play against Clemson (26th). The Cougars finish their non-conference schedule with home games against UC Riverside (208), Pacific (85), Abilene Christian (215) and Eastern Washington (261).
