BYU’s Big Three Is Making History - Again
Tuesday night in Waco, BYU’s trio of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Robert Wright III lit up the scoreboard for a combined 81 points in a statement win over Baylor. If that number sounds familiar, it should - it’s the second time this season they’ve done it.
That kind of firepower isn’t just impressive, it’s historic. The 81-point mark ties for the seventh-most points scored by three BYU teammates in a single game in program history.
Let’s put that in perspective. BYU’s record books aren’t exactly short on elite scoring performances.
We’re talking about names like Jimmer Fredette, Danny Ainge, and Tyler Haws. Matching that kind of output - and doing it twice in one season - puts this current trio in some rarefied air.
Here’s the kicker: Dybantsa, Saunders, and Wright III are the only trio in NCAA Division I men’s basketball this season where each player is averaging at least 17.0 points per game. No Big 12 team has ever had a trio accomplish that over a full season. That’s not just a footnote - that’s rewriting the script on what’s possible in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
Second-Half Surge: BYU’s Secret Weapon
If you’ve been watching BYU this season, you know the Cougars aren’t just good - they’re closers. They’re outscoring opponents by 9.7 points per game in the second half, the third-best mark in the country. That number isn’t just impressive on a national scale - it’s on pace to be the best second-half differential in Big 12 history.
A huge part of that surge? AJ Dybantsa.
The 6-foot-9 freshman is averaging a staggering 32.2 points per 40 minutes after halftime. That puts him in the 100th percentile nationally.
Translation: nobody’s doing it better. He’s hit double figures in 17 games, including four 20-point second halves.
His signature moment came in a rivalry win over Utah, where he dropped 24 after the break to finish with a freshman-record 43 points.
And while Dybantsa brings the fireworks, Richie Saunders brings the flamethrower. The senior sharpshooter is hitting 46.1% from deep in second halves - nearly 10 points higher than his overall average.
His true shooting percentage after halftime? 71.1%, good for the 97th percentile nationally.
Of his team-leading 64 threes, 41 have come in the final 20 minutes. When the lights get brighter, Saunders gets hotter.
AJ Dybantsa: Chasing History, One Bucket at a Time
Dybantsa is on the verge of another milestone. With 11 points in Saturday’s matchup against Colorado, he’ll become just the second freshman in BYU history to score 600 points - and the fastest to do it since Duke’s RJ Barrett reached the mark in his 26th game back in 2019.
That’s the kind of company Dybantsa is keeping. Barrett went on to be the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft. And while it’s too early to project futures, Dybantsa’s trajectory is clearly elite.
Here’s how his pace stacks up with other recent freshman phenoms:
- RJ Barrett (Duke, 2018-19): 600 points in 26 games
- Cameron Thomas (LSU, 2020-21): 27 games
- PJ Haggerty (Tulsa, 2023-24): 28 games
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU, 2025-26): Poised to do it in 26 - right alongside Barrett
The Mboup Factor
It’s not just the stars lighting it up. There’s a quieter - but crucial - piece to BYU’s success: offensive rebounding.
When the Cougars get three or more offensive boards from Mboup, they’re 4-1. The only loss in that stretch?
A tough road game at Texas Tech.
It’s a small stat, but it speaks volumes. Hustle plays, second-chance points, and effort on the glass are often the difference between winning and losing in conference play. And when Mboup is crashing the boards, BYU tends to come out on top.
Bottom Line
This BYU team isn’t just fun to watch - they’re building something special. With a historic trio leading the charge, a dominant second-half identity, and a freshman phenom chasing records, the Cougars are making noise in the Big 12 and beyond. If they keep this up, it won’t just be a memorable season - it’ll be one for the history books.