AJ Dybantsa Sets BYU Freshman Record For Points In Win Over Utah
Jan 24, 2026, 7:04 PM | Updated: 7:05 pm
PROVO, UT - JANUARY 24: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars makes a move on Kendyl Sanders #13 of the Utah Utes during the first half of their game at the Marriott Center on January 24, 2026 in Provo, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa put together a career day in the Cougars’ win over rival Utah.
Dybantsa, one game after a season-low 13 points in last week’s loss at Texas Tech, put together a career-high 43 points in BYU’s 91-78 win over the Utes.
AJ Dybantsa scores 43 points for a BYU basketball freshman record
The 43-point effort from Dybantsa is a new BYU basketball record for most points scored in a game by a freshman.
Dybantsa passed Danny Ainge, who scored 36 points against Idaho State in 1977. It’s a record that has lasted 48 years in the BYU basketball program.
Dybantsa was 15-of-24 from the field, and a season-high 4-of-5 from 3-point range on his career day.
When Dybantsa hit the 40-point mark, it was on a three-pointer with 3:12 remaining in the game to put BYU up by 19.
Dybantsa’s final bucket of the memorable game was a slam dunk in the middle of the lane, where he floated in the paint to cap off a stretch where he scored 13 consecutive points for BYU.
The 43 points from Dybantsa occurred on a day where another Big 12 freshman, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, dropped 42 points in Houston’s loss at Texas Tech.
Dybantsa’s 43-points becomes tied for the fourth-highest scoring output by a freshman in conference history.
The only freshmen in the Big 12 who have scored more in a game than Dybantsa are former Oklahoma star Trae Young and former Kansas State star Michael Beasley.
Dybantsa and BYU have a quick turnaround as they prepare to host undefeated, No. 1-ranked Arizona on Monday night in the Marriott Center.
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.
