In a clash of tempos, BYU emerged victorious over West Virginia, securing a 68-48 win in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The Cougars, fresh off a high-scoring win against Kansas State, took advantage of 22 West Virginia turnovers and never looked back after Aj Dybantsa's basket put them ahead 13-11.
The Cougars extended their lead to 11 points with a Robert Wright III three-pointer, heading into halftime with a 31-23 advantage.
West Virginia made a push in the second half, narrowing the gap to three points at 43-40 with contributions from Brenen Lorient and Jasper Floyd. However, their momentum stalled, and a jumper from Chance Moore brought them within five before BYU went on a decisive run. Wright III, Dybantsa, and Kennard Davis Jr. combined for 10 points, stretching the lead to 15 and putting the game out of reach.
West Virginia's offense struggled down the stretch, managing only one field goal-a Floyd layup-in the final eight minutes.
Dybantsa led all scorers with 27 points, building on his record-setting 40-point performance the previous night. The projected top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft shot 11 of 24 from the field, made five of six free throws, and added seven rebounds to his stat line. Davis Jr. contributed 20 points on efficient shooting.
BYU turned the tables on the boards, outrebounding West Virginia 35-30, including 16 offensive rebounds. The Cougars capitalized on turnovers, converting them into 22 points.
Honor Huff paced West Virginia with 17 points, while Lorient added 11. The loss drops the Mountaineers to an 18-14 record, with postseason possibilities now leaning towards the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas or the NIT.