BYU defeated West Virginia 68-48 Wednesday night in the second round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Cougars Capitalize on Turnovers
BYU, coming off a 105-point performance against Kansas State, never trailed after A.J. Dybantsa scored to give them a 13-11 lead. The Cougars capitalized on 22 West Virginia turnovers, converting those into 22 points.
West Virginia briefly closed the gap in the second half, pulling within three points (43-40) after baskets from Brenen Lorient and Jasper Floyd. Though, BYU responded with a 10-point run fueled by Robert Wright III, Dybantsa, and Kennard Davis Jr., extending their lead to 15.
Dybantsa Leads Scoring
A.J. Dybantsa led all scorers with 27 points, shooting 11-of-24 from the floor. Kennard Davis Jr. Added 20 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting. Honor Huff led West Virginia with 17 points, whereas Brenen Lorient scored 11.
BYU outrebounded West Virginia 35-30, securing 16 offensive rebounds. This was a reversal from a game 11 days prior where BYU was “beaten badly on the boards” in a loss to West Virginia in Morgantown.
The loss drops West Virginia’s record to 18-14. Their postseason options are now likely the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas or the NIT. BYU, now 22-10, will advance to face second-seeded Houston in the quarterfinal round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the game?
The final score was BYU 68, West Virginia 48.
Who led BYU in scoring?
A.J. Dybantsa led BYU with 27 points.
What are West Virginia’s likely postseason options?
The two most likely postseason options for West Virginia are the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas or the NIT.
Given BYU’s strong performance and advancement to the quarterfinals, what challenges do you anticipate they will face against Houston?
