PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — AJ Dybantsa scored 29 points and dished nine assists to lead BYU to a 79-69 victory over Iowa State in a Big 12 men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Marriott Center. The Cougars (19-7) took a 39-30 lead into halftime and maintained control throughout the second half before an announced crowd of 18,046. Dybantsa, a freshman from Brockton, Massachusetts, was the catalyst, falling just shy of a double-double. Tamin Lipsey led the 23-4 Cyclones with 19 points. Joshua Jefferson added 13 points and seven assists, and Jamarion Batemon scored 14 points off the bench. Iowa State could not overcome BYU’s balanced attack, which saw Kennard Davis add 17 points and Mihailo Boskovic score 13.

PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — In a pivotal late-season Big 12 Conference clash that lived up to its billing, the BYU Cougars leaned on a spectacular all-around performance from star forward AJ Dybantsa to fend off a persistent Iowa State squad 79-69 on Saturday night before a raucous crowd of 18,046 at the Marriott Center. The game served as a showcase for Dybantsa, the 6-foot-9 sophomore from Brockton, Massachusetts, who delivered a masterclass with 29 points, nine assists and a critical early block, steering the Cougars to a crucial victory that bolstered their NCAA tournament resume. His performance was the central narrative in a contest where BYU managed to create and maintain a narrow but firm cushion against one of the league’s top defensive teams. Iowa State, entering the game with a sterling 23-3 record, found itself in an early hole as BYU’s offense clicked from the opening tip. The Cougars established a first-half lead they would never relinquish, taking a 39-30 advantage into halftime. The Cyclones, renowned for their tenacity, made several pushes in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits on multiple occasions, but each time BYU had an answer, often orchestrated by Dybantsa. The most important stretch of the game came in the final five minutes, with Iowa State threatening to turn the momentum. After a Jamarion Batemon free throw pulled the Cyclones within 65-63 with just over four minutes remaining, Dybantsa took over. He drew a foul and calmly sank two free throws, then on the ensuing defensive possession, his presence forced a difficult Iowa State miss. On the other end, he found Kennard Davis for a clutch 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to seven points at 70-63 with 3:33 left, effectively halting the Cyclones’ final serious rally. BYU closed the game on a 14-6 run to seal the win. Dybantsa’s supporting cast provided vital contributions. Kennard Davis, a 6-foot-6 guard from St. Louis, scored 17 points, including two key 3-pointers and two late free throws. Mihailo Boskovic, the 6-foot-10 forward from Serbia, added 13 points, and Keba Keita of Mali provided nine points and stout interior defense, including a crucial block in the second half. Robert Wright played the entire 40 minutes, directing the offense with four assists. For Iowa State, the backcourt duo of Tamin Lipsey and Jamarion Batemon shouldered the offensive load. Lipsey, the hometown guard from Ames, Iowa, scored 19 points and dished out three assists in 34 minutes. Batemon, a reserve guard from Milwaukee, provided a major spark off the bench with a team-high 14 points in just 19 minutes of action. Forward Joshua Jefferson contributed 13 points, seven assists and relentless effort on the glass. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Cyclones, who fell to 23-4 overall and will look to regroup on the road at Utah on Tuesday. BYU, meanwhile, improved to 19-7 and won for the third time in four games, a stretch that includes impressive victories over Colorado and Baylor. The Cougars’ high-powered offense, which came in averaging over 86 points per game, proved just efficient enough to solve Iowa State’s typically stifling defense. The victory was a significant Quadrant 1 win for BYU, enhancing its postseason profile in a deep and competitive Big 12. For Iowa State, the road loss represents a missed opportunity to solidify a top seed in the conference tournament but does little to diminish its standing as one of the nation’s elite teams. The game ultimately turned on the transcendent play of AJ Dybantsa, who in a matchup of NCAA tournament-caliber teams, proved to be the best player on the floor.

PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — A top-tier Big 12 showdown is set for Saturday when the Iowa State Cyclones visit the BYU Cougars at the Marriott Center. Iowa State (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) enters on a six-game winning streak, fresh off a 70-67 victory over Houston on Monday. The Cyclones boast one of the nation’s most balanced attacks, ranking in the top 15 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Guard Joshua Jefferson has been a catalyst, averaging 14.1 points, 4.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds over his last eight games. His steady playmaking will be critical against BYU’s high-octane offense. The Cougars (18-7, 7-6), however, present a unique challenge with the nation’s leading scorer, freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 30.1 points per game in conference play and is coming off a 35-point performance in a narrow 75-68 loss at Arizona on Wednesday. Dybantsa has scored at least 28 points in five of his last seven outings, including a 43-point explosion against Utah last month. This matchup pits Iowa State’s stifling defense, which allows just 60.2 points per game, against a BYU offense that averages 86.1 points at home. The Cyclones have held 10 opponents under 60 points this season. Containing Dybantsa without compromising their defensive structure will be Iowa State’s primary task. BYU, which has dropped three of its last five, seeks a signature win to bolster its NCAA tournament seeding. The Cougars are 12-1 at the Marriott Center this season, their lone loss coming to Houston on Feb. 7. Guard Robert Wright, who averages 14.3 points, provides crucial support alongside Dybantsa. Iowa State leads the all-time series 3-1, including an 87-72 win in Ames last season. Saturday’s contest is a pivotal moment for both teams’ conference standings, with the Cyclones aiming to keep pace for the regular-season title and the Cougars looking to solidify their position in the upper tier. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on ESPN.