BYU forward AJ Dybantsa has earned both the Big 12 Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time this season. The recognition comes after Dybantsa led the Cougars to their first home victory over a Top 10 opponent since 2020.
Dybantsa, who stands at 6-foot-9, was also selected for the Big 12 Starting Five for the tenth time this year. Over two games against Top 10 teams, he averaged 32 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. His shooting percentages were notable: he made just over half his shots from the field (51.1%), hit 40% from three-point range, and converted on more than four out of five free throws (82.4%).
In a recent matchup against No. 4 Arizona, Dybantsa scored 35 points—breaking BYU’s freshman single-season scoring record that had stood since 1978. He shot 13-of-28 from the field, made two out of six three-pointers, and was nearly perfect at the free throw line with seven makes in eight attempts. He also added seven rebounds and two assists during that game.
The freshman continued his strong performance against No. 6 Iowa State by nearly achieving a triple-double with 29 points, ten rebounds, and nine assists in a full-game effort as BYU won 79-69. Dybantsa went ten-for-seventeen from the field and hit two out of four shots from beyond the arc while playing all forty minutes.
On defense, Dybantsa limited Iowa State’s leading scorer Milan Momcilovic—also one of college basketball’s top three-point shooters—to just five points on one-for-five shooting overall and one-for-four from long range.
BYU will next play UCF at home on Tuesday, February 24th at 9 p.m., with coverage scheduled on ESPN2.
“AJ DYBANTSA vs Iowa State
29 PTS | 10 REB | 9 AST pic.twitter.com/XwwOhABZSv
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) February 22, 2026″
