Iowa State Vs Byu — Dybantsa Fuels No. 23 BYU's Upset of No. 6 Iowa State in Provo
In a must-have turnaround for morale and the resume, iowa state vs byu ended with BYU delivering a 79-69 home victory over No. 6 Iowa State in Provo. The win arrived after the committee released its top 16 seeds earlier in the day, with Iowa State listed as the fourth #1 seed, and provides BYU a signature result.
Iowa State Vs Byu: Game Recap
AJ Dybantsa was the engine for BYU, playing all 40 minutes and finishing just shy of a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. His defense stood out as well; Dybantsa chased Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic off screens for much of the night, contributing to Momcilovic shooting 1-for-4 from three in the game.
Other BYU contributions included Kennard Davis as the second leading scorer with 17 points while shooting 3-for-8 from three, Mihailo Boskovic earning his second consecutive start and setting a career high with 13 points, and Khadim Mboup providing a strong rebounding boost off the bench with 10 rebounds — nine of those coming in the first half. Rob Wright was limited to 6 points.
BYU missed many open three-point attempts, shooting 7-for-25 (28%) from deep, but won the rebound battle 38-29, limited turnovers against Iowa State’s pressure defense, held Iowa State to 33% three-point shooting and outscored the Cyclones in the paint 40-22. The victory moved BYU to 20-7 on the season; the Cougars next host UCF on Tuesday night in Provo.
Pregame Context and Matchup Notes
Before the game, BYU had returned to Provo after a seven-point loss to No. 4 Arizona in which the team played without Richie Saunders and relied heavily on AJ Dybantsa. Entering the matchup as underdogs, BYU had been seeking an elusive Quad 1A win against the Cyclones.
Pre-game quantitative expectations included a KenPom projection favoring Iowa State 79-78 and assigning BYU a 45% win probability. The game was scheduled to tip off on Saturday at 8: 30pm MT on a national broadcast.
Iowa State Profile: Strengths and Vulnerabilities
Iowa State came into the meeting with a reputation for physical, aggressive defense and explosive offense. In Big 12 play they ranked #4 in conference KenPom offensive efficiency and #3 in defensive efficiency, while shooting 39% from three as a team behind leading scorer Milan Momcilovic.
Momcilovic was described as a high-volume, efficient three-point threat, averaging more than seven three-point attempts per game at a 51% clip. Big man Joshua Jefferson was highlighted as a unique matchup problem — a 6-foot-9 point-forward who averages 16. 5 points, 7. 5 rebounds and 5. 2 assists while shooting 38% from three. With Toppin’s injury, Jefferson and AJ Dybantsa were noted as two of the likeliest candidates for defensive player of the year.
Iowa State also excels at offensive rebounding, ranking second in the conference in offensive rebound percentage and rebounding 36% of their misses. Vulnerabilities included turnover and free-throw issues: they were 12th in turnover percentage in Big 12 play and last in free-throw percentage at 64%.
Road/Recent Results, Home Court and Recent Slip
Iowa State’s home-court advantage was considered one of the best in college basketball, but the Cyclones were noted as less dominant on the road, carrying a 3-3 true road record in Big 12 play with road losses at Kansas, Cincinnati and TCU. Their most recent home defeat had come in a 62-55 loss to TCU, a game that featured 17 turnovers and poor shooting — 5-for-22 from three and 2-for-8 from the foul line.
Team Resumes and Player Notes
BYU’s pregame résumé highlights listed notable wins and losses that framed the matchup narrative. Best wins included Purdue (A), St John’s (N), Iowa (H), West Virginia (H), Baylor (H/A), Oklahoma State (H/A), Colorado (H), Kansas State (A), Kansas (H) and Houston (H). Listed losses included Kansas (A), Cincinnati (A) and TCU (A).
Key roster and player descriptions from the preview emphasized Joshua Jefferson as an all-around 6-foot-9 forward and Milan Momcilovic as a 6-foot-8 leading scorer at 18 points per game and a premier three-point shooter. The matchup storyline paired Jefferson’s playmaking and interior presence against BYU’s effort to contain perimeter firepower.
What This Means and What’s Next
The upset win provides BYU a signature check on the résumé and momentum heading into the home game against UCF. For Iowa State, being listed as the fourth #1 seed earlier in the day underscored the broader stakes the program faces even as the Cyclones look to correct road inconsistencies and recent slips at home.
Recent updates indicate the elements and statistics presented here reflect the immediate pregame expectations and the final game outcome; details may evolve with future developments.
