Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
KANSAS CITY, Mo.— BYU took advantage of 22 West Virginia turnovers and pulled away late for a 68–48 win on the second night of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at T-Mobile Center.
The Mountaineers kept the game close early, but the Cougars grabbed the lead for good when AJ Dybantsa scored to make it 13–11. BYU slowly built momentum from there, stretching the margin to double digits after a Robert Wright III three-pointer and led 31–23 at the break.
WVU showed signs of life midway through the second half. A Brenen Lorient three-pointer followed by a Jasper Floyd jumper cut the deficit to 43–40 with 9:36 remaining, giving the Mountaineers a chance to swing the momentum.
But the offense went cold at the worst possible time.
Chance Moore’s jumper trimmed BYU’s lead to 47–42 with just over eight minutes left, the Cougars responded with a decisive run. Wright III, Dybantsa and Kennard Davis Jr. combined for 10 points during a quick stretch that pushed the lead to 15 and put the game out of reach for Ross Hodge’s squad.
WVU managed just one field goal in the final eight minutes, a Floyd layup with 1:59 remaining.
Dybantsa led all scorers with 27 points while also adding seven rebounds. Davis Jr. finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
BYU was dominated on the glass in Morgantown a few weeks ago but the Cougars turned the tables and outrebounded the Mountaineers 35–30, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Honor Huff paced WVU with 17 points, while Lorient added 11.
The loss drops the Mountaineers to 18–14 and likely leaves them looking toward postseason options such as the NIT or the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas. The Cougars improve to 22–10 and advances to face No. 2 seed Houston in the quarterfinals.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
