No. 10 BYU Rolls Past Pacific Behind Big Nights From Saunders, Dybantsa and Wright
In Provo on Tuesday night, No. 10 BYU looked every bit the top-10 team it’s been billed as, dismantling Pacific 93-57 in a game that showcased the Cougars’ depth, defensive intensity, and offensive firepower.
Richie Saunders led the way with 24 points, but this was far from a one-man show. AJ Dybantsa posted a double-double - 23 points and 10 rebounds - and Robert Wright III poured in 22 points, including 16 in the second half, to help BYU improve to 10-1 on the season. Saunders and Wright also combined for 10 steals, with five apiece, as BYU’s defense smothered Pacific from the opening tip.
Let’s be clear: this game was over early. BYU opened with a 6-0 run thanks to buckets inside from Wright, Dybantsa, and Kennard Davis Jr., and they never looked back.
Pacific couldn’t find a rhythm offensively, missing their first eight shots from the field and going a brutal 0-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half. BYU took full advantage, building a 41-20 lead by halftime.
Pacific, now 8-4, did show some life after the break. Kajus Kublickas, who led the Tigers with 14 points, knocked down three of his four attempts from deep and helped spark a 20-8 run that cut the deficit to single digits at 49-40 with about 14 minutes to go.
But just when it looked like Pacific might make things interesting, Dybantsa drilled a three, and BYU flipped the switch again. That shot ignited an 18-0 run that completely blew the game open. From there, it was all Cougars - aggressive on defense, efficient on offense, and relentless in transition.
BYU shot 47% from the field, hit 11 threes, and was nearly automatic from the line, sinking 24 of 27 free throws. Pacific, by contrast, didn’t make a single trip to the charity stripe until late and finished 0-for-3 from the line - a stat that speaks volumes about BYU’s discipline and the Tigers’ inability to generate contact in the paint.
Elias Ralph added 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for Pacific, but the Tigers just didn’t have the firepower or the defensive answers to keep up with a BYU team firing on all cylinders.
What’s Next
Pacific returns home to host Nicholls State on Sunday, looking to regroup and get back in the win column.
BYU continues its homestand Friday night against Abilene Christian, aiming to keep the momentum rolling as they push deeper into a season that’s starting to feel special in Provo.