BYU Edges Utah in Heated Rivalry Matchup, Continues winning Streak
Salt Lake City, UT – The No. 9 BYU Cougars secured a hard-fought 89-84 victory over the Utah Utes on Saturday night at the Huntsman Center, extending thier winning streak to 12 games and maintaining their undefeated record of 3-0 in Big 12 play. The game, played before a spirited crowd of 15,558, saw the Utes push the Cougars to the limit, rallying from a 13-point deficit in the final minutes.
The victory marked a meaningful contrast for BYU point guard Rob Wright III, a Baylor transfer, who noted the stark difference in atmosphere compared to his previous encounter with Utah. “The last time I played Utah there were no fans here,” Wright said after contributing 23 points and six assists to the win according to BYU Sports Radio Network.
BYU coach Kevin Young emphasized the challenging nature of rivalry games, stating, “I usually get into stats, this and that, but stats don’t matter in a game like this.” He acknowledged the Utes’ tenacious performance,despite their 0-3 record in conference play and a four-game losing streak. Young recalled a narrow overtime loss at the Huntsman Center last year, his first experience with the rivalry, and noted the intensity it brings. “Rivalry games are like that for a reason,” he said. “it makes it super fun.”
Freshman standout AJ Dybantsa echoed the sentiment,describing the atmosphere as a “welcome to the Big 12” moment. Dybantsa continued his notable scoring streak, adding 20 points to the Cougars’ total, marking his ninth consecutive game with 20 or more points. He also achieved a notable milestone, becoming the first Division I freshman in the last 30 seasons to record nine straight 20-plus point games while shooting over 50% from the field, as reported by ESPN Research.
Despite the win, Young acknowledged areas for advancement, particularly the team’s free-throw shooting. BYU missed 10 free throws, including crucial attempts in the closing minutes. “There is no scheme for making free throws. Either you step up and make them, or you don’t.That’s the bottom line,” Young stated.
The Cougars’ next challenges include a home game against TCU (1-2, 11-5) on Wednesday, followed by a road contest against No. 14 Texas Tech on Saturday. BYU will then face a significant test against undefeated and top-ranked Arizona at the Marriott Center on January 26th.
The victory over Utah is considered a Quad 2 win for BYU, as road wins against teams ranked 76-135 in the NET rankings fall into that category. Furthermore, BYU’s earlier season win against Wisconsin has been reclassified as a Quad 1 win following Wisconsin’s recent upset victory over Michigan, giving the Cougars a total of five Quad 1 wins.
