Magic at the Marriott Center.
No. 23 BYU scored its most impressive win of the season Saturday night, topping No. 6 Iowa State for a 79-69 upset victory.
The Cougars are now 20-7 on the season and 8-6 in Big 12 play.
3 takeaways
A late first half stretch made the difference for BYU. With 6:34 left to play before halftime, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson hit a 3-pointer to put the Cyclones ahead by one point.
It would be their last score for nearly six minutes, as BYU responded with a 13-0 run — arguably the team’s most impressive stretch of the season.
AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright scored 10 of the 13 points, with Mihailo Boskovic adding a bucket and Khadim Mboup making a free throw.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives the ball between Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, right, and guard Nate Heise during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after a foul was called on him during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Ronald A. Rasband, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, looks to high-five BYU President C. Shane Reese after a play against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) celebrates his 3-pointer against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News A BYU fan holds up a sign during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Richie Saunders claps for his teammates from the bench during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Richie Saunders, right, hugs center Keba Keita (13) as Keita wears a headband honoring Saunders, who recently tore his ACL in a previous game, after BYU defeated Iowa State 79-69 in an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Aleksej Kostić (6) drives the ball to the basket while guarded by Iowa State forward Blake Buchanan, left, during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Richie Saunders, left, who recently tore his ACL in a previous game, talks with Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith after BYU defeated Iowa State 79-69 in an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) hangs on the rim after dunking the ball against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) is helped up by Nick Greer after a play against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) calls out to his teammates as he’s guarded by Iowa State guard Killyan Toure (27) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) is tended to by coaches as he walks off the floor during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) goes up for a shot while guarded by Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, right, during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) guards Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (5) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) guards Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (5) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with a referee during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) chases down the ball after it got loose from an Iowa State player during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) slaps hands with guard Robert Wright III (1) between plays against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU center Keba Keita (13) takes a foul shot during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks the ball on a fast break during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with guard Robert Wright III (1) at the end of a timeout during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Richie Saunders, center, watches a play unfold from the bench during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU fans react after an Iowa State player hit a 3-pointer during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) reacts after dunking the ball against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young calls out to his players during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) guards Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (5) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) dunks the ball against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) looks to rebound a foul shot from one of his teammates between Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, left, and guard Nate Heise, right, during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU center Keba Keita (13) wears a headband honoring guard Richie Saunders (15), who recently tore his ACL in a previous game, during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) high-fives fans after BYU defeated Iowa State 79-69 in an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) dunks the ball against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young celebrates with fans after BYU defeated Iowa State 79-69 in an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU head coach Kevin Young talks with guard Robert Wright III (1) at the end of a timeout during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Iowa State guard Jamarion Batemon (1) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU center Keba Keita (13) dunks the ball on a fast break against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU fans celebrate after an Iowa State player missed a foul shot during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) takes a foul shot during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU center Keba Keita (13) dunks the ball past Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (5) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots the ball while guarded by Iowa State forward Blake Buchanan (23) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) grabs his own rebound against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) goes up for a shot against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) takes and makes a 3-pointer against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) goes up for a shot while guarded by Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger calls out to his players during an NCAA basketball game against BYU held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) talks with his teammates as they huddle between plays during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) dunks the ball past Iowa State forward Blake Buchanan (23) during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Iowa State shot 0 for 6 from the field over the course of BYU’s 13-0 run, committing three turnovers as well.
When the Cyclones finally broke their scoring drought, the Cougars still held a 10-point advantage and never trailed again en route to the 10-point win.
BYU dominated down low. The Cougars rebounded like mad men, winning the glass battle by a 39-28 margin, including 12 offensive boards.
Khadim Mboup led the way with 10 rebounds, including nine in the first half alone.
Dybantsa added 10 rebounds of his own, with Keba Keita, Boskovic and Kennard Davis Jr. grabbing six, five and four boards each, respectively.
Additionally, BYU nearly doubled Iowa State’s paint scoring production, posting 40 points to the Cyclones’ 22, which went a long way in helping the Cougars overcome a 28% 3-point shooting night.
BYU also scored 13 points off turnovers, 14 points in transition and averaged 1.25 points per possession against an Iowa State defense that ranks top 10 nationally.
At long last, BYU finally earned a signature victory. All season long, the Cougars have been unable to defeat elite opponents, entering Saturday night 0-6 against top 15-ranked teams.
But the losing streak is over.
BYU defeated an Iowa State team that would be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament if it had started on Saturday. The Cougars finally have a marquee win they can hang their hat on both for their résumé and in believing they can beat anyone in March.
It was a gutsy effort. BYU out-worked and out-hustled Iowa State, and while the Cyclones did threaten late by cutting the deficit to three, the Cougars held their ground and finished the job.
Most impressively, BYU won without Richie Saunders, which should add even more fuel to the belief tank.
One final note: This was likely Dybantsa’s finest outing of his unbelievable freshman campaign, scoring 29 points with 10 rebounds, nine assists, a block and a steal.
But Dybantsa’s most valuable contribution was his defense. He forced nine Cyclone stops and held prolific scorer/3-point shooter Milan Momcilovic to just five points on 1 of 5 shooting.
If Dybantsa can continue to excel on both ends of the floor while getting contributions from his supporting cast, watch out for BYU down the stretch.
