Kansas Outlasts BYU in a Statement Win at Allen Fieldhouse
On a day when the college basketball spotlight was squarely on Lawrence, Kansas, the Jayhawks made sure to deliver. With ESPN’s College GameDay setting the stage and a packed Allen Fieldhouse buzzing for its 1,000th game, Kansas came out swinging and never really let go-despite a late surge from BYU that made things interesting. The 90-82 win keeps KU right in the thick of the Big 12 race, and more importantly, it showed a team starting to look whole again.
Kansas Finds Its Rhythm-and Its Star
For the first time in what feels like weeks, Kansas had a clean injury report. That alone was a win.
But the real boost came from star freshman Darryn Peterson, who looked every bit the NBA prospect scouts came to see. With 32 NBA executives from 17 teams in the building, Peterson wasted no time making an impression-scoring nine of KU’s first 15 points and igniting a 29-14 run that gave the Jayhawks early control.
Peterson finished with 18 points in just 20 minutes before cramping forced him to the bench for much of the second half. That’s becoming a bit of a pattern, and it’s something to monitor going forward.
Still, when he’s on the floor, Peterson changes the game. His combination of scoring instinct, poise, and athleticism gives Kansas a dynamic edge they simply don’t have without him.
The Jayhawks led comfortably for most of the night, but BYU didn’t fold. The Cougars clawed back in the second half and cut the lead to just four points in the final minute.
Credit to Kansas for holding firm when things got tight. This wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was a resilient one-and that’s the kind of win that builds momentum in February.
BYU’s Big 12 Hopes Take a Hit
BYU came into the game with a 17-3 record and plenty of buzz, but now sits behind five teams in the Big 12 standings after falling to Kansas. With losses already to Arizona, Texas Tech, and now KU, the Cougars are in a tough spot if they still have hopes of chasing the regular season title.
The highly anticipated matchup between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson didn’t quite live up to the billing. Dybantsa struggled to get going early, and while he found a bit of rhythm later, the damage was already done. BYU’s slow start-fueled in part by the raucous Fieldhouse crowd-put them in a hole they couldn’t quite climb out of.
Looking ahead, BYU’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. They’ve got three ranked opponents-Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State-coming up in their next six games.
If they want to stay in the race, they’ll need to steal at least two of those. A 2-1 mark in that stretch might keep the door open.
Anything less, and their Big 12 title hopes likely fade.
Allen Fieldhouse Delivers-Again
Saturday wasn’t just another home game for Kansas. This was the 1,000th game played at Allen Fieldhouse, a venue that’s as much a part of college basketball history as any blueblood program. From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric-and it stayed that way through every run, every whistle, and every big shot.
College GameDay brought the national spotlight, and the Kansas faithful did the rest. The building, which first opened its doors in 1955, remains one of the most intimidating and awe-inspiring places to play in the country.
When Jay Williams says it’s the best college basketball venue in America, he’s not exaggerating. Saturday was just another chapter in its storied legacy.
BYU felt that energy early. The Cougars looked rattled out of the gate, and Kansas capitalized. That’s what makes Allen Fieldhouse such a weapon for the Jayhawks-it’s not just a home court, it’s a force multiplier.
Bottom Line: Kansas is starting to look like a team that can make serious noise in March-especially if Darryn Peterson stays healthy. BYU, meanwhile, has some soul-searching to do.
They’re talented, but the Big 12 grind is unforgiving, and the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Saturday was a reminder of just how high the bar is in this league-and how hard it is to win in Lawrence.