No. 11 BYU Holds Off Upset-Minded TCU To Extend Win Streak
Jan 14, 2026, 11:47 PM | Updated: Jan 16, 2026, 10:35 am
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball extended its win streak to 13 games after defeating TCU 76-70 in a late-night home game at the Marriott Center.
AJ Dybantsa scored a game-high 25 points to lead all scorers. Dybantsa was battling an illness during the game.
No. 11 BYU 76, TCU 70
Tough, grind it out type of win for BYU. Cougars are now 4-0 in Big 12 play.
Win streak extends to 13 games. pic.twitter.com/ktNa8cbkop
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 15, 2026
The star freshman scored 17 points in the second half to help lift the Cougars past TCU.
Former Salt Lake Community College standout Xavier Edmonds led the way for TCU with 19 points.
BYU improves to 16-1 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play.
TCU falls to 11-6 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12.
First Half
Under-16: TCU 8, BYU 4
It was another slow start for BYU, as TCU jumped out to an early lead.
BYU started the game missing its first four 3-pointers. Meanwhile, TCU hit a pair of triples.
AJ Dybantsa wore long sleeves under his jersey for the first time this season.
Seeing Dybantsa in long sleeves brought back flashbacks to Jimmer Fredette wearing long sleeves briefly during his junior season in 2010.
Dybantsa opened the game with one heave as the shot clock was expiring well beyond the three-point line.
Under-12: TCU 16, BYU 12
Dybantsa ditched the long sleeves and got on the board with a bucket near the rim.
With Abdullah Ahmed out due to a shoulder injury, Kevin Young turned to Mihailo Boskovic as the backup center. Boskovic provided a spark with an and-one.
Under-8: BYU 20, TCU 19
BYU jumped out in front after six consecutive points from AJ Dybantsa, capped off by a reverse layup.
For the second consecutive game, Kevin Young brought out a lineup that featured Keba Keita and Khadim Mboup in the frontcourt. Mboup’s position during his career has been the four.
TCU guard Tanner Toolson, a former BYU player, was fired up when he buried his first 3-point attempt of the evening.
Under-4: TCU 27, BYU 25
BYU guard Rob Wright knocked down the Cougars’ first three of the game on a possession that was extended by AJ Dybantsa with an impressive save on a loose ball in the corner of the court after a missed free throw by Keba Keita.
At that moment, the late-night capacity crowd at the Marriott Center was getting loud. But, TCU had a response.
Rob Wright missed a layup opportunity that led to a fastbreak for TCU’s Micah Robinson, which resulted in an and-one after BYU’s Tyler Mrus fouled him.
End of First Half: TCU 36, BYU 30
The first-half close was sluggish for BYU.
BYU star AJ Dybantsa took a hard fall, and his right shoulder made contact with the TCU defender. He remained in the game until BYU called a 30-second timeout at the 1:22 mark.
During the stretch with Dybantsa on the floor, Iowa transfer Brock Harding hit a bucket.
On the next TCU possession, BYU center Mihailo Boskovic had an impressive block on Liutauras Lelevicius, who appeared to have a clear line for a wide-open dunk, but Boskovic made the play.
Dybantsa returned for the final possession of the half with 4.6 seconds remaining.
BYU guard Rob Wright turned on the jets and drove down the middle of the lane to get to the line for two free throws. After the foul, Wright was walking gingerly.
Second Half
Under-16: TCU 44, BYU 43
AJ Dybantsa didn’t appear to open the second half, fazed by getting a little shaken up to close the first half. Dybantsa scored eight points before the first media timeout.
His first bucket in the second half was an and-one in which he appeared to be floating in the air, showcasing elite athleticism. Then, later, he knocked down a three-pointer and had the Marriott Center on its feet.
TCU kept answering.
BYU fans were unhappy with the officials during the media timeout. Keba Keita and Richie Saunders both reached their third foul.
Under-12: BYU 55, TCU 49
AJ Dybantsa was in the zone, getting to his spot and creating a pair of old-fashioned and-ones.
Dybantsa’s second and-one with TCU’s David Punch on him, had the star freshman let up a loud scream as the momentum was building in favor of BYU.
Before that, Mihailo Boskovic knocked down a three in the corner.
Under-8: BYU 61, TCU 56
Physical game with a lot of whistles.
Richie Saunders returned to the game with four fouls at the 8:43 mark in the half.
Under-4: BYU 65, TCU 63
The Horned Frogs fought back to tie the game at 63, as Micah Robinson scored on a fastbreak layup after a Richie Saunders turnover.
TCU had opportunities to take the lead.
David Punch went to the foul line for two free throws to grab the lead and missed both, keeping the game tied at 63, and giving the Marriott Center crowd free Chick-fil-A, something they didn’t get in the last home game against Arizona State.
Rob Wright then responded with a drive to the hoop on a tight angle to get BYU back in front.
End of game: BYU 76, TCU 70
Richie Saunders knocked down a dagger three-pointer with 2:14 remaining to put BYU up 70-63.
TCU continued to make BYU work until the end with 3.5 seconds remaining and AJ Dybantsa was able to successfully inbounds the ball to Richie Saunders to close it out.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
