Breaking new ground in Brigham Young University's storied basketball history, AJ Dybantsa delivered a spectacle of a performance, becoming the first Cougars player to notch a 30-point triple-double. BYU concluded its non-conference play with a 109-81 win over Eastern Washington on Monday night, with Dybantsa racking up 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, as reported by ABC4.
The last time a BYU player landed a triple-double was in 2016, which makes Dybantsa's feat that much more significant, considering the nine-year gap since, and Dybantsa's efficiency during the game. In addition to his scoring and assists, he shot an impressive 85% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line, according to KSL Sports. Supporting Dybantsa's historic performance were teammates Richie Saunders with 22 points, and the tandem of Kennard Davis Jr. and Robert Wright III, who each chipped in 17 points
BYU's dominant closing to non-conference play sets up high expectations for their upcoming Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas State on January 3rd. "BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young highlighted how aggressive Dybantsa was" as a key takeaway from the game, a sentiment capturing the forward's impact throughout the matchup, according to an interview obtained by KSL Sports.
While the victory over Eastern Washington demonstrated the team's offensive prowess, with the Cougars shooting 53.5% from the field and nailing 16 3-pointers, it's their defense that translated turnovers into a scoring bonanza, outdoing their opponents with a 26-0 advantage in points off turnovers. At the half, BYU led by a margin that shrank to as little as one point before Saunders hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead, according to BYU Athletics. Into the second half, the Cougars ramped up the intensity, particularly notable in the 14-2 run after the break, where Dybantsa shone with consecutive 3-pointers.
