Byu Basketball Secures 79-69 Victory Over Iowa State in Provo

BYU grabbed a much-needed signature win Saturday night, beating #6 Iowa State 79-69 at home in Provo. The result matters now because the committee released its top 16 seeds earlier in the day and Iowa State was the fourth No. 1 seed, making the upset especially timely for BYU’s resume and morale.

Byu Basketball: Dybantsa Plays All 40 Minutes

AJ Dybantsa logged all 40 minutes and flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. His two-way impact extended beyond counting stats: Dybantsa chased Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic off screens repeatedly, which helped limit Momcilovic to 1-of-4 shooting from three. That defensive focus was a direct factor in holding Iowa State to 33% from beyond the arc.

Iowa State: Fourth No. 1 Seed and Nightly Struggles

The committee released its top 16 seeds earlier in the day, and Iowa State was listed as the fourth No. 1 seed. On the court, though, the Cyclones struggled to convert, shooting 33% from three and failing to match BYU inside. Iowa State’s status on the seed list increased the significance of the result; the committee designation set an expectation that the Cyclones did not meet in Provo.

Rebounds: BYU 38, Iowa State 29; Paint Dominance 40-22

BYU won the rebound battle decisively, 38-29, and outscored Iowa State in the paint, 40-22. Khadim Mboup provided a lift off the bench with 10 rebounds, nine of which came in the first half, helping secure extra possessions that translated into points in the paint. Those rebounding gains offset BYU's shooting woes from long range.

Bench and Starts: Boskovic’s Career High and Davis’ Scoring

Mihailo Boskovic made his second consecutive start and turned in a career-high 13 points. Kennard Davis was the second-leading scorer with 17 points and went 3-of-8 from three. Rob Wright, by contrast, was quiet with just 6 points. The combination of Boskovic’s fresh starts and bench energy, including Mboup’s glass work, supplied the balance BYU needed when its perimeter shots were not falling.

Shot Selection and Turnovers

BYU missed numerous open threes, converting 7 of 25 attempts (28%). Even so, the Cougars managed to limit turnovers against Iowa State’s pressure defense, a control that preserved enough possessions to sustain the lead. The decision to attack the interior and secure rebounds had a clear effect: it mitigated the damage of a subpar long-range night and kept Iowa State from capitalizing on transition chances.

Game Context and Next Steps: Provo Hosts UCF Tuesday Night

With the win BYU moves to 20-7 on the season and will next host UCF on Tuesday night in Provo. What makes this notable is the timing — beating a committee-designated top seed the same day the top 16 were released gives BYU both a resume boost and a morale lift heading into a quick turnaround against a conference opponent.

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Saturday’s win was born of effort on the boards and interior scoring, plus standout minutes from Dybantsa and timely contributions from Boskovic and Mboup. Those elements combined to produce a 79-69 final that leaves BYU with momentum and a clearer case as the season approaches its postseason decisions.