No. 23 BYU secured a pivotal 79-69 victory over No. 6 Iowa State at the Marriott Center, ending Iowa State’s winning streak and boosting BYU’s NCAA tournament prospects, according to Yahoo Sports. AJ Dybantsa led the Cougars with a near triple-double, posting 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists as BYU controlled the boards and held Iowa State's three-point shooting in check.
This win marked a signature moment for BYU’s 20-7 season, highlighting their resume filled with Quad 1 and 2 victories, including wins against Villanova, Wisconsin, Miami, and Clemson, as noted by Yahoo Sports’ bracketology coverage. BYU's supporting cast also stepped up, contributing crucial scoring and defensive stops that disrupted the Cyclones’ typically explosive offense.
Iowa State came into the game having recently made history with a first-ever win at Utah, fueled by Milan Momcilovic's record-breaking three-point shooting, but struggled to maintain that momentum against BYU's disciplined defense. The Cyclones were unable to capitalize on their ability to force turnovers and were limited from beyond the arc in this matchup, Yahoo Sports reports.
The victory helps BYU solidify their standing with four regular-season games remaining before tournament seeding, improving their chances of earning a favorable seed. The NCAA selection committee’s seed release earlier that day placed pressure on BYU to notch a signature win, which they achieved decisively on their home court.
Looking ahead, BYU will aim to build on this momentum in their remaining games to secure an NCAA tournament bid, while Iowa State seeks to rebound quickly as they prepare for upcoming conference matchups. Tournament implications remain fluid with selection Sunday approaching, making these final contests critical for bubble teams nationwide.
BYU
Provo
Marriott Center
Iowa State
Mihailo Boskovic
AJ Dybantsa
Milan Momcilovic
Justin Jefferson
Utah
UCF
