Kansas Survives BYU’s Second-Half Surge in Top-15 Clash Behind Balanced Effort and Early Peterson Brilliance
In a game hyped as a glimpse into the future of the NBA, it was Kansas’ Darryn Peterson who looked every bit the pro-ready prospect early on. The freshman phenom poured in 18 points in the first half, putting on a clinic that helped the 14th-ranked Jayhawks build a commanding 20-point halftime lead over No.
13 BYU. But when Peterson sat for much of the second half - something Kansas fans have seen a bit too often - things got tense in a hurry.
BYU’s Richie Saunders caught fire, and suddenly that comfortable cushion turned into a full-blown scare. The Cougars cut a 21-point deficit all the way down to four behind Saunders’ second-half eruption, but Kansas held its nerve and closed out a hard-fought 90-82 win at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Saunders was electric, scoring 24 of his game-high 33 points after the break and nearly dragging the Cougars back from the brink. But Kansas countered with a balanced attack that ultimately proved just deep enough. Bryson Tiller had a career day with 21 points, Flory Bidunga added 16, and Melvin Council Jr. chipped in a versatile 15-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance that helped the Jayhawks weather the storm.
First Half: Peterson Puts on a Show, KU Shoots the Lights Out
The tone was set early. BYU struck first with a Saunders three, but Kansas responded with seven straight points, including a smooth pull-up triple from Peterson in transition. The freshman was locked in from the jump, scoring seven quick points and leading KU to a 12-7 edge at the first media timeout.
From there, Kansas started to pull away. Even as BYU tried to mix things up defensively - briefly switching to a zone - the Jayhawks were surgical. Tiller knocked down a rare three from the perimeter, and Peterson continued to showcase his polished offensive arsenal, including a highlight-reel dunk that brought the Fieldhouse to its feet.
BYU struggled to generate consistent offense, going more than five minutes without a field goal at one point. Meanwhile, Kansas was red-hot from deep, hitting eight of its first ten threes. Tiller drilled back-to-back corner triples, pushing the lead to 21 at 45-24.
The closing minutes of the half turned into a track meet, with both defenses offering little resistance. Bidunga capped a strong first-half showing with a lob dunk, and KU went into the break up 53-33 - a dominant 20-point cushion built largely on Peterson’s 18 points and a blistering 75% clip from three-point range.
Second Half: Saunders Catches Fire, KU Hangs On
Kansas didn’t exactly come out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, but they did enough early to keep BYU at arm’s length. Offensive rebounds led to second-chance points, and Tiller kept the energy high with a pair of emphatic dunks that had the crowd roaring.
But with Peterson on the bench for an extended stretch, the Cougars found life - and it came through Saunders, who turned Allen Fieldhouse into his personal shooting gallery. He hit a four-point play from the corner, then followed it up with a series of deep threes that steadily chipped away at the Jayhawks’ lead.
AJ Dybantsa, the other top draft prospect in the spotlight, had a quieter first half but started to find his rhythm late. He scored five straight points to help BYU close the gap, then drove right into Bidunga for a tough layup that made it a two-possession game at 82-76 with two minutes to go.
Kansas, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket. They went nearly seven minutes without a field goal, and BYU capitalized. After another empty KU possession, Robert Wright III knocked down two free throws to cut it to four.
That’s when Bill Self called timeout - and the Jayhawks finally got the bucket they desperately needed. Council buried a tough, leaning jumper with the shot clock winding down to make it 84-78. It wasn’t pretty, but it was clutch.
From there, Kansas locked in. Jamari McDowell hit two free throws after a foul on the rebound, and Bidunga sealed the win with an alley-oop dunk in the final 30 seconds. Tiller added the exclamation point with a block on Wright’s last-gasp layup attempt.
What It Means
This was a win Kansas had to grind out - and one that showed both their potential and their vulnerabilities. Peterson looked every bit like a future top pick in the first half, but his absence in the second nearly cost KU a game they had well in hand. Fortunately for the Jayhawks, their supporting cast stepped up when it mattered most.
Tiller’s breakout performance, Bidunga’s interior presence, and Council’s all-around production were all critical in holding off a BYU team that refused to go quietly.
For BYU, Saunders’ performance was the headline. He was unstoppable in the second half and nearly stole the show. Dybantsa and Wright had solid outings, but it was Saunders who gave Kansas fans a serious scare.
Up Next
Kansas improves to 16-5 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play. But there’s no time to celebrate - they’re back in action Monday night in Lubbock for a showdown with Texas Tech, who sits at the same record after falling to UCF.
If Saturday’s game was any indication, the Jayhawks have the firepower to hang with anyone - but they’ll need a full 40-minute effort to keep pace in this loaded Big 12 race.