In a game that had the feel of a March showdown in January, Kansas put on a first-half clinic at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, overwhelming BYU with a dominant 53-33 lead at the break. And if there was any doubt about who owned the moment, freshman Darryn Peterson made it crystal clear.
Peterson, already drawing NBA scouts’ attention as a projected top-two pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, didn’t just fill up the stat sheet-he electrified the building. Dropping 18 points in the first half alone, Peterson’s exclamation point came with under three minutes to play before halftime. A thunderous dunk-part power, part poetry-sent the Phog into a frenzy and stamped his name all over this matchup.
It wasn’t just a highlight. It was a statement.
This game had been billed as a heavyweight battle between two of the brightest young stars in college basketball: Peterson for Kansas and AJ Dybantsa for BYU. But through 20 minutes, it was clear who had the upper hand. While Peterson was in full command, Dybantsa was still trying to find his rhythm, managing just 7 points in the first half as the Cougars fell behind by 20.
Kansas came in riding a four-game win streak, and the confidence showed from the opening tip. At 15-5 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, the Jayhawks looked every bit the team that’s starting to hit its stride at the right time.
BYU, also 5-2 in the conference coming into the night, had dropped a tough one to Arizona earlier in the week and was hoping to rebound. But Kansas had other plans.
And the backdrop to all of this? A milestone night inside one of college basketball’s most storied arenas.
This was the 1,000th game played at Phog Allen Fieldhouse-a building that’s seen legends, buzzer-beaters, and banners. Add Peterson’s performance to the list of unforgettable moments under that roof.
Looking ahead, Kansas will take this momentum on the road to face Texas Tech in what promises to be another key Big 12 battle. BYU, meanwhile, stays on the road and will look to bounce back Wednesday night against Oklahoma State.
The road to March is long, but if this game was any indication, Darryn Peterson and the Jayhawks are just getting warmed up.