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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa reacts to scoring a career high and new freshman record at BYU during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Tyler Tate, AP Photo

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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives to the basket while guarded by Utah forward Josh Hayes (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Tyler Tate, AP Photo

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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, center, celebrates with guard Robert Wright III, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Tyler Tate, AP Photo

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BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) drives to the basket guarded by Utah forward Kendyl Sanders (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Tyler Tate, AP Photo

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BYU head coach Kevin Young reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

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Utah guard Terrence Brown, center left, has his shot blocked by BYU center Keba Keita, center right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.

Tyler Tate, AP Photo

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Saturday’s BYU-Utah game was rolling along in a typical way, with the highly-ranked Cougars struggling to get any separation from the plucky Utes.

Closer-than-expected games are kind of built into this rivalry’s DNA.

A 14-3 run, fueled by eight straight points from Richie Saunders, gave BYU a 69-56 lead with 9:56 to play.

The last ten minutes of the game was all about AJ.

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa watched fellow freshman Kingston Flemings score 42 for Houston earlier in the day and obviously felt inspired. Dybantsa scored a career high and Cougar freshman record 43 points in his team’s 91-78 victory against Utah in front of 18,224 breathless fans at the Marriott Center, a virtuoso performance that included 25 points in the second half and 13 straight points during one particularly stunning stretch.

“When I hit, like, 26, Rob (Wright) and Tyler (Mrus) were like, ‘Keep being aggressive, you’d better hit 40,'” Dybantsa said. “And I was like, ‘I might be able to get it. I kept going off and making shots.”

It was the first time a BYU player scored 40 or more points since Chase Fischer put up 41 against New Mexico at the Diamond Head Classic in 2015 and broke Danny Ainge’s freshman record of 36 points set in 1977.

“I was impressed,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “I was like, ‘Man, this is one special, special player.’ I’ve said it a lot. I think he’s hands down the clear cut No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft upcoming, and it was on full display tonight. He was doing it every which way.”

So, about that final ten minutes.

Dybantsa — sitting at 30 points — gathered in loose ball under the basket for a dunk, then made a pair of 3-pointers to get to 38 points and break the freshman school record.

With the partisan BYU crowd chanting “AJ! AJ! AJ!” Dybantsa measured his defender and stuck another 3-pointer to get to 41 points. For good measure, he flashed down the lane and threw down a one-handed dunk on the Cougars’ next possession for his final basket of the night.

Young cleared the bench with 1:21 to play up 91-70 and Dybantsa was granted a standing ovation as he left the floor.

Dybantsa’s final numbers: 15 of 24 from the field, 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and 9 of 10 from the foul line, along with six rebounds and three assists.

“More than anything, it’s coming off his worst performance of the year,” Young said. “He wasn’t good at Texas Tech (a season low 13 points) and came out tonight unfazed. He had a clear ‘want to’ to just go out and dominate a game. And he got going.”

Dybantsa scored 19 points in the first half but the Utes made enough 3-pointers to stay close. The Cougars led 42-37 at halftime but after triples from Seydou Traore and Keanu Dawes the Utes cut the deficit to one, 46-45, with 17:53 to go.

To be honest, the large BYU crowd had more fun cheering for the fan shooting contests during time outs, where lucky patrons won a car, tuition and a $4,000 check.

At least, until the Cougars got some distance from the Utes and Dybantsa got their attention.

Nearly unnoticed was another terrific game from Wright (21 points, five rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers). The taller Cougars had huge advantages in rebounding (40-24) and points in the paint (48-18).

The Utes, which came into the game shooting 36% from the 3-point line, finished at 62% (13 of 21) from beyond the arc, including 8 of 10 in the second half. Dawes — 25% from distance this season — was 4 of 5 from deep and led Utah (9-11 overall, 1-6 Big 12) with 23 points. Terrance Brown, who was 4 of 4 from behind the arc, added 22 points.

Utah head coach Alex Jensen didn’t hold back when asked about his team’s performance.

“For the first time this year, I thought our guys quit at the end,” Jensen said. “They felt defeated, which is kind of disheartening, because I think we’ve always done a good job, we kept fighting and playing.”

No. 13 BYU (17-2 overall, 5-1 Big 12) has just two days to prepare for a huge game on Monday against top-ranked Arizona in the Marriott Center. The undefeated Wildcats (20-0, 7-0) routed West Virginia 88-53 on Saturday.