Darryn Peterson Shines as Kansas Outlasts BYU in Allen Fieldhouse Battle
LAWRENCE - Darryn Peterson didn’t just show up on Saturday - he arrived. The freshman guard turned in a statement performance inside Allen Fieldhouse, dropping 18 points in Kansas’ 90-82 win over No.
13 BYU. And while the Jayhawks had to hold off a furious second-half rally, it was Peterson’s early spark that helped build a cushion big enough to withstand the heat.
Kansas, ranked No. 14 heading into the matchup, came out firing. Peterson was right in the middle of it, setting the tone with confident shot-making and poise that belied his age. He added three rebounds and an assist to his stat line, but the impact went beyond the numbers - he helped KU race out to a 20-point halftime lead, and at one point, the margin ballooned to 21.
That first half was a clinic. The Jayhawks moved the ball with purpose, locked in defensively, and looked every bit like a team rounding into form as Big 12 play heats up.
But the second half? That was a different story.
Peterson saw limited action after the break, and BYU took full advantage. The Cougars clawed their way back behind senior guard Richie Saunders, who exploded for 33 points in one of the most relentless individual performances Kansas has seen this season.
Freshman AJ Dybantsa - another projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft alongside Peterson - added to the charge. Dybantsa even drew some heat from the Allen Fieldhouse faithful, who hit him with an “overrated” chant as he stepped to the line in the second half.
Classic college basketball theater.
BYU trimmed the lead down, but Kansas never fully relinquished control. In fact, the Cougars only held the lead for 51 seconds all game. The Jayhawks weathered the storm, leaned on their depth, and closed it out to extend their win streak to five.
Now at 16-5 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play, Kansas is gaining steam - but the road doesn’t get any easier. Next up: a trip to face No.
11 Texas Tech on Monday. The Red Raiders have been untouchable at home this season, and Kansas hasn’t won in Lubbock since the 2022-23 campaign.
It’s a tough test, but this group is starting to show the kind of resilience and firepower that travels.
And if Darryn Peterson keeps playing like this? The Jayhawks might just have another star in the making.