- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
BYU Routs Kansas State in Big 12 Tournament
Cougars earn chance to play West Virginia in second round after dominant 105-91 victory
Mar. 11, 2026 at 1:19am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The BYU Cougars routed the Kansas State Wildcats 105-91 in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament on Tuesday in Kansas City. Freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa led the way for BYU with 40 points, breaking the Big 12 tournament record for most points scored by a freshman. The Cougars used two dominant stretches in the first and second halves to pull away for the double-digit victory and advance to the second round, where they will face West Virginia.
Why it matters
BYU's dominant performance in the Big 12 tournament opener showcases the team's offensive firepower and ability to pull away from opponents. The Cougars' high-scoring attack and balanced contributions could make them a dangerous team to face as the tournament progresses. The win also gives BYU momentum heading into the second round matchup against West Virginia.
The details
AJ Dybantsa led the way for BYU with 40 points, the second-highest single-game total in Big 12 tournament history. He also added 9 rebounds and 6 assists. The Cougars used a 7-0 run at the end of the first half to take the lead, then opened the second half with a 25-8 run to build an 11-point advantage. Kansas State cut the deficit to 3 points, but BYU responded with a 28-8 stretch to put the game away. Overall, the Cougars shot 55% from the field and hit 11 3-pointers, scoring 50 points in the paint, 22 in transition, 18 off turnovers, and 19 on second-chance opportunities.
- BYU trailed by 6 points with just under 90 seconds left in the first half, but scored 7 unanswered points to take the lead at halftime.
- BYU opened the second half with a 25-8 run to build an 11-point lead.
- Kansas State cut BYU's lead to 3 points, but the Cougars responded with a 28-8 stretch to pull away.
The players
AJ Dybantsa
A freshman phenom who scored 40 points, breaking the Big 12 tournament record for most points scored by a freshman.
Kennard Davis Jr.
A BYU player who scored 15 points in the win.
Rob Wright III
A BYU player who scored 11 points in the win.
Aleksej Kostic
A BYU player who scored 11 points in the win.
Khadim Mboup
A BYU player who scored 8 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the win.
What’s next
BYU will face West Virginia in the second round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday.
The takeaway
BYU's dominant offensive performance, led by freshman AJ Dybantsa's record-breaking 40-point game, showcases the Cougars' potential to make a deep run in the Big 12 tournament. Their balanced scoring attack and ability to pull away from opponents makes them a team to watch as the tournament continues.
