PROVO, Utah — No. 19 BYU fell 97-84 to UCF Tuesday night at the Marriott Center after the Knights built a 24-point halftime lead and held off a late push in the second half.
The Cougars had no answer for the Knights 3-point shooting as the visitors went 11-of-16 from behind the arc in the first half marking the fight time since 1980 that BYU has allowed double digit triples in the opening 20 minutes.
“I think there was probably two of them that I think I contested at a rate that I would have been pleased with,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “But again, shot-making is what makes the game challenging because it’s hard to overlook it when you’re not making shots and they feel like they’re making everything. But you have got to make them miss. That is why their players deserve credit for stepping up and knocking shots down.”
BYU shot 40.8 percent from the field but fell to 12-19 since 2021 when the opposing team shoots 50.0 percent or better as the Knights were 36-of-6 from the field, 14-of-24 from three and 11-of-14 from the free throw line.
AJ Dybantsa led BYU with 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting, adding eight rebounds as he moved into 10th on the Cougars’ single season scoring list. Robert Wright III finished with 20 points and seven assists, while Aleksej Kostic scored 14 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers and recording a career-high five field goals for his first double-figure scoring performance in Big 12 play.
First Half
UCF jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the opening four minutes, fueled by early 3-pointers and transition baskets. Dybantsa opened BYU’s scoring with a floater along the baseline, and Kennard Davis Jr. added a second-chance bucket, but the Knights’ pace prompted an early BYU timeout.
Out of the break, Wright III created a driving bucket, while Dybantsa and Kostic connected from beyond the arc to give BYU a spark. Keba Keita added a tip-in off an offensive rebound, and Wright III later found Kostic for another second-chance 3, trimming the deficit to nine with 10:27 left in the half.
UCF responded with another surge from deep over the final stretch of the half, pushing the lead to 17 at the 5:35 media timeout. The Knights stayed hot from beyond the arc down the stretch and carried a 52-28 lead into halftime.
Second Half
UCF opened the second half with a 12-0 run, turning the lead into a 62-28 advantage with two dunks and trips to the free throw line. Wright III stopped the run with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Dybansta followed with a jumper in the paint.
Dybansta continued to attack, going two-for-two at the line out of the media timeout and later converting on an and-one on a floater through traffic. Mrus added a pair of free throws, but the Knights answered with back-to-back triples and took a 74-42 halfway through the final frame.
BYU generated more offense over the final 10 minutes, with Wright III creating a pair of 3-point looks for Kostic and Davis Jr. Kostic hit from deep twice and Davis Jr. knocked down his first triple of the night as the Cougars cut into the deficit. Mrus added two more free throws in the bonus and Dybansta connected from behind the arc as BYU continued to chip away.
Dybansta finished the game strong, scoring on an and-one, adding a layup and closing the night with two late dunks. BYU trimmed the margin in the closing minutes but it was too little, too late as they lost to UCF for the first time.
Up Next
No. 19 BYU heads back on the road Saturday, Feb. 28, to face West Virginia in Morgantown, West Virginia. Tip is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. MST at the WVU Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on FOX, with live audio available on BYU Radio and live stats available online.