THE TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING ALONG
With its 93-57 win over Pacific on Tuesday evening, BYU improved to 17-3 under second-year head coach Kevin Young when ranked in the Top 25. They also improved to 12-2 when ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll.
Speaking of the AP Poll, BYU is ranked in the Top 10 for a 31st time in program history, including seven straight weeks this season, which is the second-longest streak in program history. They were ranked in the Top 10 eight straight weeks in 2011, going as high as third on February 28.
THE HYPE IS REAL
AJ Dybantsa is on a historic run, as the freshman is the only NCAA Division I men’s basketball player in the past 30 years with a four-game span with 90+ points, 30+ rebounds, 20+ assists, shooting 60.0 percent or better on 60+ field goal attempts and zero fouls in 100+ minutes.
In last 30 yrs, only one DI player has had, over his full career (same span or not),
a 4-gm span w/ 90+ pts
a 4-gm span w/ 30+ reb
a 4-gm span w/ 20+ ast
a 4-gm span w/ 60% FG on 60+ FGA
a 4-gm span w/ 0 fouls in 100+ min
That man is AJ Dybantsa. He did it all the last 4 games. pic.twitter.com/jvIri00KJH
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 17, 2025
The 6-foot-9 forward has already scored 20-plus six times, including four straight games, becoming the first Cougar to do that since Tyler Haws in January 2015. Those six 20-point performances are the fifth-most by a freshman in program history, trailing Danny Ainge (18), Shawn Bradley (11), Mark Bigelow (9) and Fred Roberts (8).
The native of Brockton, Mass. became the first freshman since Fousseyni Traore on Feb. 26, 2022 to have a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. He is also shooting 55.6 percent from the field, the fourth-highest percentage by a freshman in program history (50 field goals made).
HOME IS WHERE THE MAKES ARE
With his team-high 24 points on Tuesday, Richie Saunders has now scored in double figures in 12 straight home games dating back to last season. During that stretch, BYU is 11-1 and the senior is averaging 18.0 points per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the field, 47.5 percent from three and 84.3 percent from the free throw line.
In four home contests this season, Saunders has scored 20 or more three times, including a 26-point performance against Delaware where he knocked down a program-record six 3-pointers in the second half. He enters Friday’s contest against Abilene Christian averaging 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 64.4 percent from the field, 59.1 percent from three and 81.8 percent from the charity stripe.
