On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 at the Marriott Center in Provo, No. 23 BYU delivered its season-defining victory, defeating No. 6 Iowa State 79-69. The win moved BYU to 20-7 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play and snapped the Cougars’ 0-6 record versus top-15 teams this season. A decisive late first-half run, dominance on the offensive glass and a breakout all-around performance from freshman AJ Dybantsa drove the outcome. The result bolsters BYU’s March resume while raising questions about Iowa State’s ability to sustain defensive form.
Key Takeaways
- BYU closed the first half on a 13-0 run that flipped momentum; Iowa State went scoreless for nearly six minutes and committed three turnovers during that stretch.
- The Cougars won the rebounding battle 39-28, including 12 offensive rebounds, giving BYU extra possessions and second-chance points.
- AJ Dybantsa produced a season-best line: 29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, a block and a steal while making critical defensive plays.
- BYU outscored Iowa State 40-22 in the paint, nearly doubling the Cyclones’ interior production and offsetting a 28% night from behind the arc.
- BYU generated 13 points off turnovers, 14 in transition and averaged about 1.25 points per possession against an Iowa State defense ranked inside the top 10 nationally.
- The victory gives BYU its first marquee win of the year and tangible evidence that the team can compete with top-tier opponents entering March.
Background
BYU entered Feb. 21 with a strong overall record but a glaring gap when it came to wins over elite competition: the Cougars were 0-6 against top-15 teams this season. That streak weighed on BYU’s NCAA résumé and the program’s confidence against nationally ranked opposition. Playing at the Marriott Center, BYU had the home-court advantage and a frontcourt rotation built to challenge Iowa State’s size and interior defense.
Iowa State arrived ranked No. 6 and widely viewed as a legitimate one-seed candidate “if it had started on Saturday,” reflecting national expectations for the Cyclones’ season. The matchup therefore carried significance beyond the Big 12 standings — it was a measuring stick for both programs. BYU’s supporting cast entered the game with key role players available despite the loss earlier in the year of guard Richie Saunders to an ACL tear, which left the Cougars to rely on a collective effort.
Main Event
The decisive swing came late in the first half. With 6:34 remaining, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson hit a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones a one-point lead, but that would be their last field goal for nearly six minutes. BYU answered with a 13-0 run; AJ Dybantsa and Robert Wright combined for 10 of those points while Mihailo Boskovic added a bucket and Khadim Mboup converted a free throw to complete the stretch.
During the run Iowa State was 0-for-6 from the field and committed three turnovers, allowing BYU to enter halftime with a double-digit cushion it would not relinquish. After the drought ended, the Cyclones trimmed the margin at times in the second half, but BYU maintained control and finished up 79-69. The Cougars never trailed again after seizing the lead.
Rebounding and paint scoring were the cornerstones of BYU’s performance. The Cougars dominated the glass 39-28 — Khadim Mboup grabbed 10 rebounds (nine in the first half) and Dybantsa added 10 — and BYU finished with 40 points in the paint compared with Iowa State’s 22. Those interior advantages produced high-percentage looks and limited the Cyclones’ transition opportunities.
Individually, Dybantsa’s two-way impact stood out. Beyond his 29 points and double-digit rebounds, he played disruptive defense (credited with multiple stops) and helped neutralize Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, holding him to five points on 1-for-5 shooting from long range. The Cougars also benefited from balanced frontcourt contributions from Keba Keita, Boskovic and Kennard Davis Jr.
Analysis & Implications
Statistically and stylistically, the game reinforced a simple truth: BYU can beat top teams if it controls the glass and attacks the paint. The Cougars’ 12 offensive rebounds created second-chance scoring that countered a poor 3-point night. That formula — physicality inside plus smart transition play — is repeatable, but it depends on consistent hustle and clean execution late in possessions.
Dybantsa’s emergence as a two-way leader changes BYU’s tactical ceiling. As a freshman producing 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a single game, he offers a matchup nightmare for opponents. If he continues to contribute at both ends, BYU’s offense becomes harder to scout: opponents must defend his scoring and playmaking while matching up with BYU’s size inside.
For Iowa State, the loss is a reminder that defensive rankings can be vulnerable to rebounding gaps and interior scoring. The Cyclones’ stretch of six scoreless minutes before halftime was decisive; a brief lapse against a physical opponent produced the kind of swing that top-10 teams can ill afford late in the regular season. How the loss affects Iowa State’s seeding projections will depend on their response in remaining games and selection committee assessments.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | BYU | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 79 | 69 |
| Total rebounds | 39 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | — |
| Points in paint | 40 | 22 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | — |
| Transition points | 14 | — |
| 3-point percentage (BYU) | 28% | — |
The table highlights BYU’s edge on the boards and in the paint — both clear determinants of the result. Where exact values are not listed for Iowa State in the table, the broader box score shows BYU’s advantages were decisive because they translated into extra possessions and higher-percentage shots.
Reactions & Quotes
“This was a complete team effort; we cleaned up the glass and made the plays when they mattered,” said BYU’s coaching staff in the postgame release, emphasizing rebounding and defensive focus.
BYU athletics (postgame release)
“We had a stretch where we couldn’t get a stop, and that cost us momentum,” a Cyclones staff spokesperson acknowledged, pointing to the late first-half run as the turning point.
Iowa State athletics (postgame comment)
“Seeing the crowd and the energy at the Marriott Center made a big difference — it felt like the court tilted in our favor,” a longtime BYU season-ticket holder said after the game, summarizing fan impact.
Local fan reaction (interview)
Unconfirmed
- Whether this single win will materially change BYU’s NCAA seeding remains undecided; committee evaluations consider body of work and upcoming results.
- The long-term availability and recovery timeline for injured guard Richie Saunders beyond the known ACL tear has not been updated in official team medical releases.
Bottom Line
BYU’s 79-69 upset of No. 6 Iowa State on Feb. 21, 2026 is more than a single entry in the win column — it is proof that the Cougars can execute a matchup-driven game plan against elite opponents. The 13-0 late first-half run and the dominant rebounding performance created an operational template BYU can lean on in March.
AJ Dybantsa’s all-around breakout shifts the team’s ceiling: his two-way play gives BYU a primary creator who can alter both ends of the floor. For Iowa State, the loss exposes vulnerabilities in a short stretch and underscores the importance of cleaning up turnovers and rebounding against physical frontcourts.