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BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) shoots a three point basket over Arizona State guard Anthony Johnson (2) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Rob Gray, AP Photo

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BYU's Richie Saunders is defended by Utah's Mike Sharavjamts in a Big 12 men's college basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa is putting up amazingly efficient numbers this season.

So is senior Richie Saunders.

Saunders scored a career-high 31 points in Wednesday’s 104-76 blowout win against Arizona State, making 10 of 14 from the field, 6 of 8 from the 3-point line and a perfect 5 of 5 from the foul line.

The performance didn’t go unnoticed by Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley.

“He’s a very good player,” Hurley said. “I have a lot of respect for him. He’s not even being talked about because of all the hype, and it’s deserving, for AJ. But that kid, I think I voted for him for Player of the Year in the conference last year. It was close with him and the kid from Texas Tech (JT Toppin, who won the award). But he was that good. You can’t lose him, and he knows how to play.”

In his past three games against Arizona State, Saunders has shot 62% from the field (31 of 50) and 60% from the 3-point line (18 of 30) while averaging 29 points.

Wednesday was not the first time this season Saunders has displayed brilliant efficiency and production. He scored 24 points on just seven field goal attempts (11 of 12 from the foul line) against Pacific and 22 points on 11 shots against Eastern Washington. He poured in 26 points earlier this season while taking only 16 shots against both Delaware and Wisconsin.

Saunders is 51% from the field, 42% from the 3-point line and 86% from the foul line this season.

“I thought he was super locked in,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said on Wednesday. “That’s what we talked about coming into the game, our approach. In practice two days ago I didn’t love it and I challenged the group to start the game and leave no doubt. Who’s the more focused team? I thought he (Saunders) kind of set the stage there. His scoring was really the product of our spacing, our unselfishness and then obviously his individual greatness.”

Dybantsa is in another world in efficiency. He’s scored 20 or more points in eight straight games and is shooting 58.3% from the field, charting among the national scoring leaders at 23.1 points per game.

Saunders, meanwhile, is attempting to finish above 50% from the field for the third straight season.

For a shooting guard, that’s pretty insane.

“Yeah, I don’t know,” Saunders said in his typically humble way when asked about his prowess. “A lot of praise goes to these guys over here for giving me the ball, but I’m just super happy to be able to play. It’s fun when the ball goes your way.”

Scouting Report

First-year coach Alex Jensen and the Utes started off the season with five straight wins but are just 3-7 since, losing their Big 12 opener against No. 1 Arizona (97-78) and dropping an 85-73 decision at Colorado on Wednesday.

Last year the Utes beat BYU 73-72 in overtime at the Huntsman Center on Jan. 18, getting key free throws from former Cougar Hunter Erickson in the extra session. BYU had a chance to take the lead with six seconds remaining but senior guard Trevin Knell missed the front end of a one-and-one.

“I’m still ticked that we lost that one,” Young said. “I know somewhere Trevin Knell is mad that he missed that free throw. I just want to go up there and get a win, bottom line. There is a little personal flavor to knowing Alex and Wes (Wilcox), their GM, I’ve known those guys for a long time.”

BYU earned an 85-74 victory against the Utes in Provo in last year’s Big 12 regular season finale.

The Cougars played without starting center (and former Ute) Keba Keita against Arizona State. Keita was nursing a sprained ankle and newcomer Abdullah Ahmed made his first start for BYU, finishing with three points, five rebounds and five blocks.

Young said Keita would likely be available for Saturday’s game at Utah.

Jensen’s initial roster includes zero Utahns and two legit scoring threats in 6-foot-3 Farleigh Dickinson transfer Terrence Brown (21.4 points per game) and 6-2 Western Kentucky transfer Don McHenry (18.5 ppg). One of the few returnees, 6-9 junior forward Keanu Dawes contributes 12.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

The Utes real trouble has been on the defensive end, where they are last in the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense (.465) and 15th (out of 16 teams) in points allowed per game (80.1) and rebounding (35.6 rebounds per game).

BYU is just 1-5 in its past six appearances at the Huntsman Center.

“Playing there is tough,” Saunders said. “I’m excited to go and get a win for my senior year there. They turn up the juice and everything so it’s a lot more crazy than any other game. Those are the games you look for.”

Baylor transfer guard Robert Wright III will be experiencing his first BYU-Utah game.

“I watched a little bit of the game last year and it looked pretty crazy,” Wright said. “So, I mean, I think it’s going to be a crazy game. That’s all I know.”

Men’s College Basketball

No. 9 BYU (14-1, 2-0 Big 12) at Utah (8-7, 0-2 Big 12)

Saturday, 8 p.m. MT

Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City

TV/Streaming: ESPN

Radio: KSL 102.7/1160 AM, BYU Radio-Sirus XM 143

Live stats: byucougars.com

The Word: BYU leads the overall series 135-131. … Last year the Cougars and Utes split two games, with Utah winning in overtime in Salt Lake City (73-72) and BYU prevailing in Provo (85-74). … The Cougars are 1-5 in their past six appearances in the Huntsman Center, with the one win coming in 2021 (82-64).