Iowa State Vs Byu — What the 79-69 Upset Means for Iowa State’s Resume and BYU’s Momentum
Iowa State Vs Byu matters now because the Cyclones’ defeat in Provo not only halts a run against ranked opponents but arrives on the same day the NCAA committee released top-16 seeds, with Iowa State identified as the fourth #1 seed. The result shifts momentum toward BYU while forcing Iowa State to defend a high seed and reconcile a first half that left the Cyclones vulnerable on the boards and in the paint.
Iowa State Vs Byu: immediate effects on teams and tournament profile
The immediate impact is on Iowa State’s resume and on BYU’s confidence. Iowa State (23-4, 10-4 Big 12) could not solve its third-straight ranked opponent, and the loss came after the committee’s top-16 seeds list was released earlier in the day identifying Iowa State as the fourth #1 seed. BYU’s win moved the Cougars to 20-7 (8-6 Big 12) and gives BYU a signature home victory that bolsters morale and the season narrative.
How the game unfolded in Provo (Feb 21, 2026)
In PROVO, Utah, the two teams traded leads through the first half with four lead changes. BYU opened a six-point edge just under the ten-minute mark before Iowa State answered; the Cyclones tied it 22-all on a Heise three with eight minutes left in the half. Iowa State’s last lead came on a Jefferson three at the 6: 34 mark, but BYU finished the half on a 15-5 run to carry a nine-point advantage into intermission.
The Cougars’ lead swelled to 13 early in the second stanza. Iowa State mounted a response beginning at 13: 49 with a 16-8 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 57-54 with 7: 21 remaining. A live-ball turnover while Iowa State had the ball led directly to a Dybansta dunk that swung momentum back to BYU; a subsequent 6-0 BYU run allowed the Cougars to push the margin as high as 13 and finish ahead 79-69.
Player performances that decided the game
- BYU's freshman (listed in the coverage as both AJ Dybansta and AJ Dybantsa; spelling unclear in the provided context) nearly posted a triple-double with a game-high 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, and played all 40 minutes. Rob Wright III also logged 40 minutes; another account lists him as quiet with 6 points.
- Kennard Davis added 17 points for BYU. Mihailo Bošković (also presented as Mihailo Boskovic in other coverage) recorded a career-high 13 points and was noted as starting consecutively.
- For Iowa State, Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Joshua Jefferson posted 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jamarion Batemon provided 14 points off the bench and went 4-5 from the free-throw line, sparking the second-half comeback attempt.
- Khadim Mboup was credited with 10 rebounds for BYU, nine of which came in the first half.
Stat edges, tempo notes and inconsistencies that mattered
The first half was costly for Iowa State: the Cyclones were outrebounded 22-14 in that period, committed only four turnovers (a low number that still wasn’t enough to recover), and were outscored in the paint 22-6. Over the full game, one account shows BYU outscoring Iowa State in the paint 40-22 and winning the rebound battle 38-29. BYU reportedly shot 7-25 (28%) from three despite missing many open attempts, while Iowa State was held to 33% from behind the arc. Turnovers and defensive pressure figures were cited as a factor in each team’s performance, with BYU limiting turnovers against Iowa State’s pressure.
Schedule consequences and resume signals
Iowa State will complete its Beehive State trip on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when it visits Utah at 8 pm CT; that game will be televised (network name unclear in the provided context). BYU, now 20-7, is listed as next hosting UCF on Tuesday night in Provo. The committee’s release of the top-16 seeds earlier the same day — with Iowa State as the fourth #1 seed — adds immediate stakes to those upcoming matchups for both teams.
What’s easy to miss is how the timing of the committee’s list amplifies a single result: a home upset on Feb 21 undercuts a top seed’s momentum more than it would a month earlier.
Quick Q&A
- Did an individual performance stand out? Yes — the BYU freshman (name spelling unclear in context) nearly had a triple-double (29/10/9) and played all 40 minutes.
- Where did Iowa State struggle most? The first half battle on the boards and in the paint (outrebounded 22-14 in the first half; outscored in the paint 22-6 in that period) set the tone.
- How do both teams move forward this week? Iowa State heads to Utah on Feb. 24 at 8 pm CT; BYU hosts UCF Tuesday night in Provo — both games carry heightened significance after the Feb. 21 result and the committee seed release.
Here’s the part that matters: the upset reshapes short-term narratives for both rosters and makes the next week of games more consequential than originally expected.
