BYU Basketball Riding Momentum into Stillwater Behind Wright III’s Hot Hand and Dybantsa’s Historic Run
As BYU heads into its Wednesday night clash with Oklahoma State, there’s no shortage of storylines surrounding the No. 16-ranked Cougars. From red-hot shooting streaks to record-chasing freshmen, this team is checking all the right boxes as it barrels through the heart of Big 12 play.
Robert Wright III: From Cold Start to Sizzling Streak
Let’s start with Robert Wright III, who’s quietly putting together one of the most consistent three-point shooting runs in BYU history. After opening his Cougar career with an 0-for-5 mark from beyond the arc, the sophomore guard has flipped the script in a big way. He’s now hit at least one three-pointer in 19 straight games-a streak that ranks as the eighth-longest in a single season in program history.
If he connects from deep on Wednesday night in Stillwater, Wright will join an exclusive club of just eight players in BYU history to make a three in 20 consecutive games during a single season. And he’s not just making them-he’s making them at an elite clip. His 43.26% shooting from downtown this season currently ranks 17th all-time for a single season in program history, edging out Richie Saunders’ mark from last year by a tenth of a percent.
Cougars Keep Rolling Against Unranked Foes
BYU hasn’t just been winning-they’ve been dominating the teams they’re supposed to beat. The Cougars have rattled off 22 straight wins against unranked opponents, a run that started nearly a year ago with a gritty 73-69 win at West Virginia.
During this stretch, BYU has been firing on all cylinders. They’re outscoring opponents by an average of 17.1 points per game, shooting just shy of 50% from the field, nearly 36% from three, and over 73% from the line. That’s the kind of efficiency that wins games in March, not just in January.
Keba Keita: Defensive Anchor with NBA-Level Numbers
Senior big man Keba Keita continues to be a force on the defensive end and is getting national recognition for it. Recently named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, Keita is averaging 1.9 blocks per game overall and 2.0 in conference play. He’s already swatted 36 shots this season-just five fewer than he recorded across 35 games last year.
Keita’s shot-blocking prowess has him climbing the BYU record books. He currently ranks third all-time in blocks per game (1.42), trailing only former NBA bigs Shawn Bradley and Greg Kite.
He’s also 18th in total career blocks (77) and 20th in rebounds per game (7.83). In short, he’s doing the dirty work on both ends-and doing it at a high level.
AJ Dybantsa: Freshman Phenom Chasing BYU History
Speaking of record books, AJ Dybantsa is rewriting them in real time. The 6-foot-9 freshman is just 11 points away from becoming only the third freshman in BYU history to score 500 points in a season. Through 21 games, he’s already outpaced Danny Ainge at the same point in their freshman campaigns, holding a 23-point edge over the former Celtics legend.
Dybantsa’s consistency has been remarkable. He’s scored in double figures in all 21 games this season, breaking a tie with Alec Burks for the third-longest such streak to start a career in Big 12 history. His 21-game double-digit streak is tied for seventh-most by a freshman in BYU history, and his 14 games with 20+ points put him just four shy of Ainge’s freshman record.
He’s also closing in on a pair of free-throw records, needing 13 more makes and 10 more attempts to surpass Ainge and Shawn Bradley, respectively. It’s not just volume-it’s efficiency and clutch scoring that’s making Dybantsa one of the most impactful freshmen in the country.
Richie Saunders: Climbing the Three-Point Ladder
Richie Saunders has been letting it fly from deep-and connecting at a historic rate. With six triples in BYU’s recent matchup at No. 14 Kansas, Saunders became just the eighth player in program history to hit 200 career threes.
Among those elite shooters, Saunders ranks third in three-point percentage (39.3%), trailing only Jimmer Fredette (39.4%) and Trevin Knell (39.8%). Saturday’s performance marked the 10th time in his career he’s hit five or more threes in a game, making him one of just five Cougars to do that.
Next Stop: Stillwater
The Cougars wrap up their two-game road swing with a visit to Gallagher-Iba Arena to face Oklahoma State. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FS1, with Jack Kizer and Miles Simon on the call.
This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the two programs, with BYU holding a 6-4 series edge. The Cougars have won the last two matchups-both at the Marriott Center-including an 85-69 victory last season in head coach Kevin Young’s first game against the Cowboys. Five Cougars scored in double figures in that win, led by Trevin Knell’s 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three.
But it’s been a long time since BYU tasted victory in Stillwater. You have to go back to December 15, 1971, when Bernie Fryer dropped 21 points and Kresimir Cosic added 20 points and 9 boards in an 84-74 win.
Wednesday night presents a chance to end that drought-and with the way this team is playing, they’ve got the firepower, depth, and momentum to do it.