PROVO — Santa Cosmo introduced BYU basketball enthusiasts an early Christmas provide within the Cougars’ first recreation on the Marriott Heart since Nov. 11.
An early evening off; no “Cardiac Cougs” this weekend.
UC Riverside might not be UConn, Miami or Clemson, however the present will have to be preferred no much less.
AJ Dybantsa poured in 26 issues, 8 rebounds, seven assists and 5 steals as No. 10 BYU cruised to a 100-53 win over UC Riverside.
Richie Saunders added 19 issues and 5 rebounds for the Wasatch Academy alum’s absolute best scoring evening in 3 video games. Keba Keita had 5 issues and 11 rebounds, and Aleksej Kostic provided a season-high 15 issues with 4 assists.
Khadim Mboup had 12 issues and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (9-1), who assisted on 22 of 39 made box objectives — an offense that used to be as flowing as BYU trainer Kevin Younger’s daughter in her pre-game piano recital.
“She completely cooked,” Younger mentioned after the sport. “Shout out to her.”
Dybantsa cooked, too, doing the whole thing however tickle “Away in a Manger” at the ivories Saturday evening. The five-star freshman confirmed why many NBA draft analysts projected him because the No. 1 total pick out subsequent summer season, at the same time as competing best potentialities like Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson climbed draft forums.
However Dybantsa confirmed his versatility with a near-triple double in half-hour Saturday, taking pictures 11-of-17 from the sector, 4-of-9 from the free-throw line, and discovering his teammates seven instances for 3-pointers, dunks and alley-oops that made him give Saunders and Co. a glance he declined to exhibit with the clicking.
“I am hoping everybody, together with myself, is not only going to get conversant in AJ and ask a query about him,” Younger mentioned. “The fellow used to be improbable this night; that used to be ridiculous what he did this night. He had 26 issues, 8 rebounds, seven assists, one block — and he almost definitely may just’ve had 50. He is a unique participant; that used to be fantastic what he used to be doing available in the market.
“Everybody feeds off him,” he added. “I just like the chemistry that I am seeing, at the side of this dynamic skill. That is in reality the Holy Grail. You’ll have chemistry, and tack on high-end skill; that is what we are looking to get to.”
After scoring simply 5 issues on 2-of-11 taking pictures in a 67-64 win over Clemson, Richie Saunders discovered his mojo within the Cougars’ first true house recreation in 31 days.
The Riverton local used to be satisfied to be house after video games in Boston, Orlando, Salt Lake Town and New York, and he confirmed appreciation with 15 issues on 6-of-10 taking pictures within the first part to steer the Cougars.
Talking of taking pictures, that is what Kostic did when he made 3 3-pointers for a career-high 12 issues ahead of halftime. Identical with Rob Wright III, who had 9 issues and 5 assists because the Cougars led by means of up to 19 en path to a 49-32 halftime benefit.
Dybantsa added 10 issues, 3 assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block within the first part for BYU, which shot 60% from the sector and 6-of-9 from 3-point vary ahead of the destroy.
“Clearly, now we have been popping out lovely lazy,” Dybantsa admitted. “Our 2d halves were just right, however we simply sought after to deliver that very same mentality to the primary part.”
If there used to be any doubt in the second one part (there wasn’t), the Cougars eliminated any of them with a 28-5 run over 6:48 that put the hosts up 81-42 on Khadim Mboup’s transition bucket with 9:46 left to play.
BJ Kolly had 12 issues to steer UC Riverside (5-6), however fouled out with 12:56 final within the Highlanders’ 3rd loss within the remaining 4 video games. That integrated a 77-69 setback to Utah Tech two weeks in the past.
Andrew Henderson scored 10 of his 14 issues in the second one part for the Highlanders.
BYU is again house Tuesday to host Pacific, the Cougars’ 2d of 4 immediately house video games ahead of wrapping up nonconference play Dec. 22. Tipoff towards the Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.
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