No. 14 Kansas defeated No. 13 BYU 90-82 in a highly anticipated Big 12 matchup at Allen Fieldhouse, highlighted by standout performances from supporting players amid hype around freshmen Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa. Bryson Tiller led the Jayhawks with 21 points, while BYU's Richie Saunders scored a career-high 33. The win extends Kansas' streak to five games.
The game, marking the 1,000th at historic Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, pitted two top NBA draft prospects against each other: Kansas' Darryn Peterson and BYU's AJ Dybantsa. Despite the buzz, it was the supporting casts that shone brightest.
Kansas jumped to a 20-point halftime lead, shooting 75% from three-point range while BYU managed only 25%. Peterson, the No. 1 prospect, dazzled in the first half with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including three threes, but exited early in the second half due to leg cramps and played just 20 minutes total. He has now missed 10 games this season due to injuries.
Redshirt freshman Bryson Tiller stepped up for the Jayhawks, scoring 21 points on efficient shooting, including three threes, with seven rebounds and a block. Melvin Council Jr. added 15 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Flory Bidunga, Tre White, and the center effectively guarded Dybantsa, limiting him to 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and just one rebound and assist.
BYU mounted a strong second-half comeback, outscoring Kansas 49-37, led by senior Richie Saunders' career-best 33 points (24 in the second half) on 11-of-19 shooting, including six threes, plus 10 rebounds, two steals, and a block. Dybantsa improved after halftime but couldn't overcome the early deficit.
This victory improves Kansas to 16-? overall (exact record not specified across sources) and extends their winning streak to five since a January 10 loss to West Virginia. BYU, now 17-4 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 play, suffers its first consecutive losses of the season. Kansas next faces No. 11 Texas Tech on the road Monday, while BYU travels to Oklahoma State.
The matchup drew numerous NBA scouts, with Saunders' performance likely boosting his draft stock for 2026.
