BYU Outlasts Colorado in Overtime Thriller Behind Robert Wright III’s Career Night
PROVO, Utah - On a night when BYU honored one of its all-time greats, it was a current Cougar who stole the show.
With Jimmer Fredette’s No. 32 jersey being lifted into the rafters, sophomore guard Robert Wright III delivered a performance worthy of the moment - and then some. Wright poured in a career-high 39 points, lifting No. 22 BYU to a gritty 90-86 overtime win over Colorado in a game that had all the emotional swings and intensity you could ask for in mid-February college hoops.
And while the Buffs came up short, this was far from a flat performance. Colorado showed fight, resilience, and a renewed sense of urgency after getting blown out at Texas Tech just days earlier. This one went down to the wire - and beyond - before the Cougars finally pulled away in the extra session.
Why Colorado Fell Short
If you're looking for the difference in this one, start beyond the arc. BYU was lights out from deep, hitting 11-of-22 three-pointers - a sharp departure from their season average in Big 12 play.
Colorado, meanwhile, struggled to match that efficiency, going just 9-of-32 from long range. That’s a tough gap to overcome on the road, especially against a ranked opponent.
And then there were the missed opportunities at the free throw line. The Buffs left seven points on the table, finishing 11-for-18 from the stripe. In a four-point overtime loss, those misses loom large.
The Stars of the Show
1. Robert Wright III (BYU)
With Richie Saunders sidelined just 45 seconds into the game due to a leg injury, Wright stepped up and then some. He was nearly unstoppable, going 12-of-16 from the field and 11-of-13 at the line.
His 39-point outburst was not only a career high - it was the engine that kept BYU’s offense humming all night.
2. AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
Colorado made the Cougars’ freshman phenom earn everything. Sebastian Rancik led a defensive effort that forced Dybantsa into a tough 6-for-20 shooting night and a season-worst seven turnovers.
But Dybantsa still found ways to impact the game, finishing with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. Even when he’s off, he’s dangerous.
3. Isaiah Johnson (Colorado)
The Buffs’ freshman guard was fearless. Johnson knocked down four threes and poured in a season-high 27 points - the most by any Colorado player this year.
He also hit the clutch driving layup that tied the game at 78 and sent it to overtime. On a floor with a future lottery pick in Dybantsa, Johnson looked like the most electric young player in the building.
How It Played Out
BYU took a 37-32 lead into halftime and extended it early in the second half, but Colorado responded with a 13-0 run to flip the momentum. The Buffs held a 51-45 advantage before things started to unravel slightly. A technical foul on assistant coach Nate Tomlinson and a flagrant foul on Josiah Sanders handed BYU four free throws - and they cashed them in.
Still, Colorado stayed in it. Bangot Dak scored in the paint to cut BYU’s lead to 78-76 with under two minutes to go. After a pair of defensive stops, Johnson’s drive tied it up, and Rancik’s strong defense on Dybantsa at the buzzer forced overtime.
The extra session was a back-and-forth battle until BYU’s Mihailo Boskovic drilled a go-ahead three with 1:21 left to make it 85-82. The Buffs had three looks at a tying triple on the next possession but couldn’t connect. From there, the Cougars sealed it at the line.
What the Buffs Are Saying
Despite the loss, there was a different energy coming out of the Colorado locker room.
“We had a team meeting, just with the players,” Johnson said postgame. “We talked about holding each other accountable, playing hard, and playing with ‘Colorado’ on our chests - not the name on the back.”
Head coach Tad Boyle echoed that pride in his team’s effort.
“That was a heck of a college basketball game,” Boyle said. “We got spanked and punched in the face on Wednesday against Texas Tech. But today, we were aggressive the whole game, and we fought like a team I’m proud of representing.”
Defensive Highlights and Missed Chances
Sebastian Rancik deserves a tip of the cap for his work on Dybantsa. The freshman still got his numbers, but Rancik made him work for every bucket and forced him into uncharacteristic mistakes. Rancik also led Colorado with 10 rebounds and six assists, showing his all-around impact.
Colorado’s perimeter shooting, however, just wasn’t there. Outside of Barrington Hargress (4-for-6 from deep), the rest of the team went 5-for-26 from three. That’s a tough pill to swallow in a game where BYU hit nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc.
What’s Next
The Buffs will get a full week to regroup before hosting Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 21. With the Big 12 grind in full swing and postseason hopes hanging by a thread, Colorado needs to build on the positives from this one - and finally get over the hump in close games.
Despite the loss, this felt like a step forward. The effort, the energy, the fight - it was all there. Now the Buffs need to turn that into wins.