Lead
PROVO — At Madison Square Garden on Thursday night in the Jimmy V Classic, No. 10 BYU erased a 22-point second-half deficit to beat Clemson 67-64. AJ Dybantsa dominated the comeback, scoring 22 of his game-high 28 points after halftime, and Robert Wright III hit a buzzer-beating 3 to seal the victory. The win improved BYU to 8-1 while Clemson fell to 7-3. The result stands as the largest second-half rally in BYU men’s basketball history.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: BYU 67, Clemson 64 — BYU rallied from a 22-point second-half hole to win.
- AJ Dybantsa: 28 points (22 in the second half), nine rebounds, six assists; his second-half surge paced the comeback.
- Robert Wright III: 17 points, five rebounds, three assists; hit a buzzer 3-pointer off an inbounds pass from Mihailo Boskovic.
- Keba Keita contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals and provided critical dunks late.
- Clemson stats: Jestin Porter 17 points, four rebounds, four assists; RJ Godfrey 13 points and five rebounds; Clemson led 43-22 late in the first half.
- Momentum swing: Clemson made just 1 of its first 11 second-half field-goal attempts while BYU used a 20-3 run to take the lead.
- Historic mark: The 22-point comeback is the largest second-half rally in BYU program history.
Background
The Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden is a high-profile early-season neutral-site event that often pits ranked programs against each other. BYU entered the game ranked No. 10 and carried expectations after a strong nonconference start, while Clemson came in 7-2 with balanced scoring and interior size that pressured opponents. Historically, BYU has had occasional deep comebacks but had not erased a 22-point second-half deficit until this meeting.
Clemson built its lead behind efficient first-half shooting and superior rebounding, particularly in the opening 20 minutes when the Tigers outrebounded BYU and scored repeatedly from beyond the arc. BYU’s roster features several recent transfers and an emerging freshman in Dybantsa, whose combination of size and playmaking has drawn national attention and draft speculation. The matchup highlighted contrasting styles: Clemson’s halfcourt production and glass control versus BYU’s transition and wing versatility.
Main Event
The game tilted Clemson’s way early. Porter’s 3s and a 24-3 stretch pushed the Tigers to a 43-22 advantage late in the first half, and BYU failed to score for the final 6:43 before intermission. Clemson shot 45 percent in the first half and held a notable edge on the glass and bench scoring that helped create the large margin.
BYU opened the second half with more energy. Dybantsa scored seven points in a 10-1 run to begin the period and later hit free throws and jumpers that kept the Cougars within striking distance. Clemson, by contrast, missed many early second-half attempts — converting just one of its first 11 shots — while BYU chipped away with steals and improved rebounding.
A dramatic stretch midway through the second half saw Keba Keita explode in transition, and one dunk broke the rim and forced a stoppage. BYU used the break to regroup; Dybantsa returned and hit back-to-back jumpers that capped a 20-3 run and pulled BYU to 47-42 with 9:55 remaining. Later, Dybantsa threaded passes to Keita for consecutive dunks that gave BYU a 55-54 lead with about 3:17 left.
The closing sequence began with BYU coach Kevin Young drawing up a final play. Dybantsa and the second option, Richie Saunders, were well-defended. After an inbounds feed from Mihailo Boskovic, Wright caught the ball and buried a 3 at the buzzer for BYU’s first lead of the night in the closing seconds. Hunter’s tying bucket with five seconds left had briefly erased BYU’s late advantage and set up Wright’s winner.
Analysis & Implications
Statistically, the game reflects a classic turnaround driven by defensive adjustments and cornerstones of modern rosters: a versatile wing who can score and create (Dybantsa) and a guard who can rise for big shots (Wright). Clemson’s first-half dominance came from superior shooting and rebounding, but their second-half offensive collapse — 1-for-11 early in the half — allowed BYU to flip the script.
For BYU, the victory underscores the program’s depth and roster construction since coaching changes and transfer movement. Dybantsa’s multi-faceted performance (scoring, rebounding, passing) demonstrates why he’s widely regarded as a high-upside prospect; his ability to impact games beyond scoring helped manufacture second-chance points and momentum swings. Wright’s late-game composure also answers questions about BYU’s backcourt toughness in pressure moments.
Conversely, Clemson leaves with clear takeaways about maintaining composure and execution when a lead evaporates. Teams that rely heavily on early shooting rhythm can be vulnerable if that rhythm stalls and opponents win the turnover and rebound battle. For Clemson, cleaning up late-game decision-making and second-half shot selection will be priorities.
Comparison & Data
| BYU (1H) | BYU (2H) | Clemson (1H) | Clemson (2H) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 22 | 45 | 43 | 21 |
| Rebounds | 11 | ?? | 24 | ?? |
The table highlights the scoring split: BYU managed just 22 first-half points compared with 45 after halftime; Clemson’s scoring dropped from 43 to 21. Rebound totals swung the contest in the second half as BYU erased an early deficit on the glass and in transition. (Box-score totals are available in the linked official recap.)
Reactions & Quotes
I told Mihai, look for me; I’m gonna be open. Then I got the ball and I knocked it down.
Robert Wright III, BYU guard (postgame)
Wright described his final play in simple terms: he signaled where he would be on the inbounds and executed under pressure. The shot was the point guard’s first true buzzer-beater since his early high-school days, according to his own estimate.
He can hurt you in so many different ways. I thought those two passes were as impressive as anything he did.
Kevin Young, BYU head coach (postgame)
Coach Young singled out Dybantsa’s passing to Keita as pivotal, highlighting the freshman’s playmaking in addition to his scoring. Young also noted that the rim-break delay inadvertently allowed starters extra rest, which he believes helped in the final stretch.
Unconfirmed
- Projection that AJ Dybantsa will be an NBA draft lottery pick is a consensus scouting view but remains a projection and not a guaranteed outcome.
- Whether the broken rim and subsequent delay materially changed the outcome is a coach’s assessment; it is difficult to quantify the delay’s precise impact on player performance.
Bottom Line
BYU’s comeback at Madison Square Garden was a landmark moment for the program: an example of how a single high-impact player can alter a game while strong bench and role-player contributions sustain a run. AJ Dybantsa delivered an all-around second-half performance, and Robert Wright III provided the composure to finish it.
For BYU, the win offers momentum and a confidence boost as the Cougars return home to the Marriott Center and prepare for UC Riverside on Saturday at 7 p.m. MST (ESPN+). For Clemson, the game is a reminder of the fragile nature of big leads and the importance of closing out games with consistent offensive execution and rebounding control.