Another close finish: BYU holds on for 78-76 exhibition victory against North Carolina
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- North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, left, and BYU center Keba Keita, center, wrestle for possession of the basketball as time runs out to end the game during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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- BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) goes to the basket while guarded by North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, second from right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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- BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) dribbles through the defense of North Carolina guards Kyan Evans (0) and Seth Trimble, left, during an NCAA college basketball exhibition game, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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- BYU guard Richie Saunders, bottom, is fouled in the final minute by North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, top right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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- BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) goes to the basket for a dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game against North Carolina, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY — Whatever men’s college basketball exhibitions really mean, BYU fans have at least been treated to a couple of exciting finishes.
The Cougars missed a couple of late 3-pointers in last week’s 90-89 loss at Nebraska but turned to its defense to secure Friday’s 78-76 victory against North Carolina at the Delta Center.
Holding on for the win came down to a final Tar Heels possession with 5.5 seconds to play.
North Carolina inbounded the ball to Henri Veesaar at the top of the key and he handed it to Seth Trimble on the move. Trimble drove hard to the rim but was met there by BYU’s Keba Keta, who made Trimble alter his shot (he may have also gotten a piece of it) for the miss. Keta grabbed the rebound and Veesaar tried to rip it away. But Keta was too strong, shrugging the 7-footer to the floor and hanging on as the clock expired.
“We just had to switch everything,” BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa said on ESPN+ after the game. “We put a lineup in there with the best defenders and the longest so they don’t get a good shot up and we got the stop.”
Cougar head coach Kevin Young said his team’s exhibitions were two totally different types of games.
“The Nebraska game, we were banged up and still kind of are,” he said. “It didn’t feel real, honestly. So this (game) felt a lot more real. I think sometimes as coaches, we get into the weeds about schemes and this and that, but we found a way to win against a good team that’s well coached and is really big. I was really proud of our overall toughness.”
The game showcased two of the best freshmen in the country in Dybantsa and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, and the two stars didn’t disappoint. Dybantsa led BYU with 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks. The 6-10 Wilson topped the Tar Heels with 22 points and ten rebounds. In one sequence, Wilson got a hand on fallaway shot by Dybantsa with the shot clock running down, but Dybantsa got his revenge on the other end by swatting a Wilson offering.
“I saw both of them play a lot in high school,” Young said. “We recruited Caleb when he was in high school, so I got to know him. It was fun watching those guys compete. You’d be hard pressed to find that level of matchup in terms of guys with that level of size in college, and on an NBA court, which was fitting. I thought they both had moments.”
BYU’s largest lead was eight (18-10 at 10:46 first half) and North Carolina once led by four (68-64, 5:12 second half) in a game with 13 lead changes and eight ties. The Cougars led 18-10 early in the game and took a 39-35 lead at halftime.
A Rob Wright III basket pushed BYU out to a 64-61 advantage in the second half but a 7-0 run for North Carolina, with four points from Wilson, gave the visitors a 68-64 lead with 5:08 to play.
Kennard Davis Jr. had some terrific moments down the stretch for the Cougars, including a 3-point play for a 69-68 lead and a corner triple off a nice feed from Wright with 2:01 remaining for a 74-71 advantage.
Wilson drove hard to the basket with under 30 seconds left but Mihailo Boskovic made a strong defensive play to force a miss to keep BYU on top 76-73. Wright was fouled and made both attempts with 22.1 seconds to go for a 78-73 Cougar lead. Dybantsa contested a Trimble 3-pointer on the other end but was called for a foul, which led to three free throws to cut the BYU lead to 78-76 with 11.9 seconds remaining.
North Carolina fouled Saunders but the Cougar senior missed both free throws, setting up the final 5.5 seconds.
Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis said the exhibition met his expectations.
“I think there are a number of things that I liked out of this, on and off the court,” he said. “We have the rhythm and routine of going on the road, traveling, playing, hotels, meetings, shoot arounds and film, all of those things in preparation for the upcoming season. And then playing a quality opponent like BYU.
“It really gives you a clear pictures of the things you can be encouraged about, things you need to address and get better at. I felt like BYU did the same thing, you know? They got to play Nebraska, and learned something. When they came in here, they grew. So my hope is that next week in our exhibition game we’ve taken steps forward in our group.”
Keta had a big game with 16 points and ten rebounds. Saunders added 14 points but was 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 9 from the 3-point line. Wright ended up with 12 points and five assists. Davis produced eight points and two steals and Khadim Mboup was great off the bench with seven points and four rebounds.
Trimble had 17 points for North Carolina and Veesaar, a transfer from the University of Arizona, added 14 points and eight rebounds.
BYU will open the season for real at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 3 against Villanova.
