3 takeaways from BYU’s win over Eastern Washington

Published: Dec 22, 2025, 9:15 p.m. MST

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks during the first half of a basketball game against the Eastern Washington Eagles at the Marriott Center in Provo on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.

BYU ends nonconference play with a bang.

AJ Dybantsa’s 30-point triple-double powered the Cougars past Eastern Washington 109-81 Monday night at the Marriott Center, with Kevin Young’s team now standing at 12-1 as it enters the Big 12 portion of its schedule.

that's a wrap on non-con play 🤙 pic.twitter.com/3uUDmjHS8a
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 23, 2025

3 takeaways

AJ Dybantsa dominated to the tune of a 30-point triple-double. Another game, another Dybantsa masterclass — but this time it was arguably his best outing to date.

Against the Eagles, Dybantsa notched his first career triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first BYU player since Kyle Collinsworth in 2016 to accomplish such a feat.

AJ DYBANTSA GETS A TRIPLE DOUBLE pic.twitter.com/19VjVb2Hd8
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) December 23, 2025

Not only was it BYU’s first triple-double in nine years, it was the first 30-point triple-double in school history. Additionally, Dybantsa is now the youngest college player to ever put up a 30-point triple-double.

Most impressively, Dybantsa got his 33 points on 11 of 13 shooting from the field — and 9 for 11 from the charity stripe — for a 92.5% true shooting mark. Can you say “generational talent?”

Over the current 4-game homestand, Dybantsa has averaged 29.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

For the season, he’s now averaging 25 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

AJ Dybantsa puts up first career triple-double 🔥

33 PTS | 11-13 FG | 10 REB | 10 AST | 36 MINS pic.twitter.com/quHn7dqkCQ
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) December 23, 2025

Aside from Dybantsa, Richie Saunders scored 22 points, Kennard Davis Jr. added 17 and Rob Wright III poured in 17 points with seven assists.

As a team, BYU shot 53.5% from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range, averaging a blistering 1.47 points per possession.

BYU’s defense struggled mightily. If you couldn’t already tell by the final score, Monday’s action was probably closer than anyone would have expected for the Cougars in facing KenPom’s No. 260-ranked squad.

Eastern Washington scored 81 points, which may end up being more than some Big 12 teams put up at the Marriott Center this season.

The Eagles shot 46.3% from the floor and 31.3% from 3-point range, sinking 10 triples and trailing by just five points at halftime before BYU pulled away late.

Perhaps the Cougars were gassed after playing four games in nine days, or maybe the overall effort and crispness just wasn’t there against Eastern Washington. Whatever the case, BYU now has 12 days to rest up and lock in again.

The Cougars are on to Big 12 play. BYU has concluded the nonconference portion of its schedule, having gone 12-1 with five Quad 1/2 victories and 10 wins of 10 or more points.

Expectations for the Cougars were high before the season, and it’s safe to say Kevin Young’s crew has met the moment thus far.

Comments

BYU’s only blemish has been a 2-point loss to national title contender UConn in Boston when the Cougars were missing two starters. Aside from that, BYU has been nails — after overcoming plenty of slow starts, of course.

Dybantsa has been the superstar BYU hoped he’d be, with Richie Saunders and Rob Wright III playing outstanding as well. The Cougars are clicking offensively, have shown some encouraging signs on the defensive end and are getting more production out of their bench as of late.

But of course, BYU’s quest for a deep NCAA tournament run truly begins in the Big 12, which will test the Cougars like nothing they’ve seen before.

BYU will travel to Kansas State on Jan. 3 for its Big 12 opener.