BYU’s Richie Saunders Shines On Day Dominated By Dybantsa-Peterson Battle
Jan 31, 2026, 11:01 PM
LAWRENCE, Kan. – When it came to BYU-Kansas, everyone was talking about AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
The media gathering at Allen Fieldhouse featured extensive national media personnel, including individuals who have backgrounds in covering player evaluations from the high school and the NBA draft.
When looking at the top NBA draft prospects exiting Allen Fieldhouse’s 1,000th game, BYU star Richie Saunders should be the big riser up draft boards.
Richie Saunders scored a career-high 33 points against Kansas
“Number one, I thought Richie Saunders was the best player on the floor,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said when asked his thoughts on how AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson handled the hype of the matchup.
Young continued on Saunders, “If someone can find a tougher competitor in the country, I’m all ears. I thought he played unbelievably.”
Saunders was brilliant in a 90-82 loss for No. 13 BYU at No. 14 Kansas.
BYU’s senior star posted a career-high 33 points, 24 of which were in the second half, when BYU tried to mount a comeback from 21 points down.
But it wasn’t only shot-making from Saunders. It was on both ends of the floor.
Saunders grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out two assists, had two steals, and one block.
He showed off the relentless motor that made him a First Team All-Big 12 selection last season.
The shot-making was impressive in a game where Darryn Peterson was red-hot to start the game before he was sidelined for the final 16 minutes with cramps.
Saunders hit 6-of-14 from 3-point range. When Saunders fired off any shot in the second half, the Kansas faithful collectively held their breath when he let it fly.
Kansas guard Melvin Council, who ultimately hit the dagger to seal the victory for the Jayhawks, was asked about the challenges of defending Saunders.
Kansas guard Melvin Council on BYU’s Richie Saunders: “He’s nice. He can shoot the ball really well.” pic.twitter.com/XRyGyqu7pA
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 1, 2026
He had a long pause and then said, “He’s nice. He can shoot the ball very well.
“We tried to throw so many different players on him and stuff like that. We just had to maintain him. When I was defending, I tried not to let him go through the screens and stuff like that. But he kept doing it. Thirty-three points, that’s a lot of points. I give him props.”
Darryn Peterson/AJ Dybantsa did not disappoint
The Darryn Peterson/AJ Dybantsa debate, if NBA teams were fans of either prospect going into the matchup, there was a lot to like from both.
Dybantsa finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field that included a tough finish at the rim on Flory Bidunga in the second half.
Peterson ended up with 18 points in only 20 minutes of action and had a dunk to remember late in the first half.
But on a day when 32 scouts and executives from 16 NBA teams were in attendance, Saunders definitely helped his cause to climb up NBA draft boards for next summer’s NBA draft.
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.
