BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) screams after being fouled with seconds left in the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jackson has been writing about sports for the Deseret News since 2023.
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For the first time since joining the Big 12, BYU has finally defeated Texas Tech.
The Cougars scored a much-needed upset over the Red Raiders in Saturday’s regular season finale, orchestrating yet another second half comeback to win 82-76 at the Marriott Center.
BYU now heads to the Big 12 tournament having finished the regular season 21-10, including 9-9 in conference play.
BYU stormed back in the second half. At halftime, the Cougars trailed by eight points, having given up 12 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes of play.
BYU won the second half 44-30, however, shooting 50% from the field, averaging 1.47 points per possession.
Defense made all the difference in the second half, as the Cougars held Texas Tech to 38% total shooting and a 4 of 16 mark from behind the arc. At one point, the Red Raiders missed 9 of 10 shots, allowing BYU to go on a 13-2 run.
After leading by nine points with four minutes left to play, Texas Tech offered one final push to tie the score at 75 points apiece in the final two minutes.
But Kennard Davis Jr. connected on BYU’s lone 3-pointer of the second half to put the Cougars ahead for good, with four Rob Wright III free throws later icing the upset win.
BYU’s rebounding was massive. During the Cougars’ 3-game losing skid heading into Saturday, they had drastically underperformed on the glass.
But BYU flipped a switch against Texas Tech.
The Cougars won the rebound battle by a 41-34 margin, with a whopping 20 offensive rebounds leading to 20 second chance points.
The Red Raiders, conversely, grabbed just 11 offensive boards.
Keba Keita had 11 rebounds, while Wright, AJ Dybantsa and Khadim Mboup each grabbed six.
BYU’s strength down low didn’t just apply to rebounding. The Cougars scored 48 paint points compared to just 14 for Texas Tech.
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) screams after being fouled with seconds left in the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) turns toward the Cougar bench in celebration as the clock hits zero giving BYU the win over Texas Tech at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) is trapped by Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Lejuan Watts (3) and Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jazz Henderson (2) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (13) grabs the arm of Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Luke Bamgboye (9) as he battles his teammate Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jazz Henderson (2) for a rebound at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars fans and students rush the court after the Cougars defeaded the Texas Tech Red Raiders 82-76 at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots up a shot over Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Josiah Moseley (5) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Luke Bamgboye (9) and BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) fall to the floor as they wrestle for the ball during a game at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with BYU Cougars center Keba Keita (13) as they play the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) knocks the ball away from Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jaylen Petty (11) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) yells a BYU forces the Texas Tech Red Raiders to call a timeout as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) drives to the hoop with Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Luke Bamgboye (9) defending as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) is hugged by teammate BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) as they Cougars defeat the Texas Tech Red Raiders 82-76 nat the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) pushes up a shot ahead of Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Christian Anderson (4) as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) battles Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Donovan Atwell (12) for the ball as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) lets the ball go out of bounds as he and Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jaylen Petty (11) battle as they play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after getting a steal but having it taken away because of the possession clock running out as BYU and Texas Tech play at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
BYU now rides into the postseason with some momentum. Seriously, could this win have come at a better time?
Despite three straight losses (two coming in blowout fashion), the Cougars responded as encouragingly as a team in their position could, refusing to balk at the challenge Texas Tech posed and managing to pull off a second top 10 win this season.
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Wright led the way with 27 points, while Dybantsa added 21 points and four assists. Davis scored 16 points — 13 in the first half, and then the game-winning triple in the second half’s final 100 seconds.
BYU now heads to next week’s Big 12 tournament in Kansas City with the chance to keep building off of Saturday’s success and improve its NCAA tournament seeding.
It’s no secret that this season has been filled with adversity for the Cougars, who probably never expected to drop nine conference contests, lose so many rotation players to injury or fall out of the AP top 25 rankings.
But after all the chaos and strife, BYU finds itself at the start of a brand new season. The Cougars control their own destiny to create March magic. Based on how they played Saturday, there seems to be a new sense of belief for Kevin Young’s crew.
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