(VIDEO) No. 23 BYU Falls Short in Upset Bid at No. 4 Arizona, 75-68, Missing Key Opportunity in Big 12 Race

No. 23 BYU battled valiantly but couldn’t overcome a shorthanded No. 4 Arizona squad, falling 75-68 on Wednesday night at McKale Center in a game that slipped away despite a heroic 35-point effort from freshman star AJ Dybantsa.

The Cougars (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) entered the contest looking for a signature road win against a top-five opponent, but Arizona (24-2, 11-2) snapped a two-game skid and moved into a tie for first place in the Big 12 with Houston. The Wildcats never trailed in the second half, building a 19-point lead before holding off a late BYU rally.

Arizona’s bench provided the spark, led by Anthony Dell’Orso’s season-high 22 points off the reserve role. Ivan Kharchenkov added 18 points, while the Wildcats shot 45.3% from the field and controlled the glass despite missing key contributor Koa Peat (lower-leg muscle strain).

Dybantsa, the 6-foot-9 forward, carried BYU with 35 points on 13-of-28 shooting, including a barrage in the second half that kept the Cougars within striking distance. He topped 30 points for the game, showcasing his scoring prowess amid the absence of leading scorer Richie Saunders, who missed his first game of the season.

BYU cut the deficit to single digits late, but Arizona’s defense stiffened, forcing turnovers and converting at the line (13-of-16 free throws). The Cougars fell to 1-6 against AP Top 25 teams this season, highlighting their ongoing struggles against elite competition.

The game marked the first Arizona win over BYU in Tucson since 1999, ending a long drought in the series at McKale Center. BYU had won the previous meeting in Provo, but Arizona’s home dominance prevailed despite roster challenges.

Arizona led 42-35 at halftime, capitalizing on transition opportunities and Dell’Orso’s hot shooting. The Wildcats extended the margin to 66-50 with 6:40 left on a Dell’Orso 3-pointer, but Dybantsa’s scoring flurry — including tough drives and mid-range jumpers — fueled a push that made it competitive down the stretch.

BYU shot 43.1% overall but struggled from deep (5-of-19) and committed 14 turnovers. Arizona’s balanced attack and rebounding edge (32-23) proved decisive.

The loss drops BYU to 7-6 in conference play, complicating their push for a higher Big 12 seeding with the regular season winding down. Arizona’s victory keeps them in the hunt for the conference title ahead of a key matchup Saturday.

Dybantsa praised his teammates’ fight postgame: “We gave everything we had. Arizona’s tough at home, but we showed we can compete.” Coach Mark Pope echoed the sentiment, noting the team’s resilience despite the result.

The Cougars return home for their next contest, while Arizona looks to build momentum in the standings.