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BYU Suffers Lopsided Loss to Cincinnati
Cougars' collapse continues with third straight defeat, putting NCAA Tournament seeding in jeopardy
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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BYU's men's basketball team suffered a blowout 90-68 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday, their third straight defeat. The Cougars shot just 41% from the field and committed 15 turnovers, with only two players scoring more than 6 points. Cincinnati's defense stifled BYU, and the Bearcats scored 90 points, shooting 50% from the field and dishing out 24 assists. BYU's struggles have put their NCAA Tournament seeding in a precarious position with just one regular season Quad 1 game remaining.
Why it matters
BYU was picked to finish second in the Big 12 preseason poll, but their recent collapse has them likely to finish 9th or 10th in the conference. This will force them to play in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, a major letdown. Their NCAA Tournament seeding is also in jeopardy, as they've lost 9 of their last 13 games.
The details
BYU's offense was completely shut down by Cincinnati's stifling defense. The Cougars shot just 41% from the field and 29% from 3-point range, with only two players - AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright III - scoring more than 6 points. BYU also committed 15 turnovers, leading to 21 Cincinnati points. On the other end, the Bearcats had 5 players score in double figures, shot 50% from the field, and dished out 24 assists on 32 made shots. Cincinnati scored 12 fast break points, 17 second chance points, and 34 points in the paint.
- BYU suffered their third straight loss on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
- The Cougars are now 20-10 on the season and 8-9 in Big 12 play.
The players
AJ Dybantsa
A BYU player who scored 44 of the team's 68 points, but shot just 40.5% from the field and committed 9 turnovers.
Rob Wright III
A BYU player who scored 44 of the team's 68 points, but shot just 40.5% from the field and committed 9 turnovers.
Kennard Davis Jr.
A BYU player who scored 6 points in the first half but was held scoreless in the second half.
Aleksej Kostic
A BYU player who scored 14 points and made 4 3-pointers, but had the team's worst plus/minus at -25.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The opponent, a team on the NCAA Tournament bubble, who scored 90 points and shot 50% from the field against BYU.
What’s next
BYU will either play Kansas State or Utah in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. The Cougars will be favored, but a loss to either team would be a devastating blow. BYU also has one final regular season Quad 1 opportunity at home against Texas Tech on Saturday.
The takeaway
BYU's recent collapse has put their NCAA Tournament seeding in jeopardy, as they've lost 9 of their last 13 games. The Cougars' offense and defense have both struggled mightily, and they now face the prospect of having to play in the first round of the Big 12 tournament after being picked to finish second in the preseason.
