BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Jay Drew
By Jay Drew
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.

KANSAS CITY — BYU point guard Rob Wright looked and talked like he had just gone a few rounds with boxer Mike Tyson after the Cougars’ 105-91 win over Kansas State in a Big 12 tournament first-round game Tuesday night.

Actually, Wright needed the help of a dentist, after getting a tooth knocked out of socket with about 12 minutes remaining in the game and the Cougars clinging to a 73-67 lead. Wright also sustained a cut lip that required stitches in the BYU locker room after taking an elbow from KSU’s CJ Jones.

The good news is that Wright did not suffer a concussion, as originally feared, and pronounced himself good to go when BYU takes on West Virginia on Wednesday (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN2) in a second-round game.

“I was playing defense and No. 3 tried to do a Euro-step and he elbowed me in my mouth,” Wright said. “It felt like my lip wasn’t on my mouth anymore. Then (trainers) came over and then I had to get a dentist to fix my tooth. It was, like, way back there in my mouth.”

Wright said the dentist had to numb his mouth before the emergency procedure, but it was still a painful ordeal.

“He pulled it back forward, and put it back in place,” Wright said.

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The Baylor transfer had scored 14 points on 5 of 12 shooting and handed out six assists in 28 minutes before leaving the game for good. He said he got scoring updates from the court as medical personnel scrambled to save his tooth.

“Before I got hurt, I was just trying to keep the same energy from the Texas Tech game going,” Wright said, after having scored 27 points in the win over the No. 10 Red Raiders last Saturday. “I am proud of the (reserves). Guys are just finding their roles and just figuring it out at the right time.”

One of those reserves, Khadim Mboup, grabbed 14 rebounds to tie for the third-most among freshmen in Big 12 tourney history.

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Coach Kevin Young called Wright’s injury a “lip laceration” and said he expects the sophomore to play against the Mountaineers.

“Everything else checked out,” Young said. “So barring anything unforeseen, Rob’s a pretty tough young man and I will assume he is going to play.”

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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) is fouled by Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) while driving to the basket for a layup during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) hangs on the rim after a fast break dunk during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach and BYU alumni Andy Ried, left, attends a game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats with his wife, Tammy, right, during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) drives to the basket for a dunk during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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A young fan holds up a sign as he cheers for BYU during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU fans cheer during the second half of the game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after the play during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates after scoring during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) reaches for a loose ball ahead of Kansas State Wildcats guard Nate Johnson (34) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) drives past BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Robert Wright III (1) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU center Keba Keita (13) dunks on Kansas State Wildcats forward Khamari McGriff (21) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU head coach Kevin Young directs his players during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) passes the ball to the corner during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Aleksej Kostić (6) reacts after turning the ball over during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after a basket during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Players on the Kansas State Wildcats bench celebrate a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against BYU during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) and guard Aleksej Kostić (6) celebrate on the bench after a BYU basket during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang looks on during the first half of the game against BYU during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) drives to the basket for a layup against BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) defends Kansas State Wildcats guard Nate Johnson (34) during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) and forward Dominique Diomande (24) celebrate after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) celebrates with forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) after making a 3-pointer during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives past Kansas State Wildcats guard PJ Haggerty (4) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard CJ Jones (3) attempts to pass the ball away from BYU guard Kennard Davis Jr. (30) after slipping on the court during the first half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU center Keba Keita (13) grabs a rebound over Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU guard Richie Saunders (15) greets teammates at the bench during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats forward Taj Manning (15) grabs a rebound over BYU center Keba Keita (13) during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Kansas State Wildcats guard David Castillo (10) and BYU forward Dominique Diomande (24) battle for a loose ball during the second half of the game during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) after the play during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with guard Robert Wright III (1) and forward Dominique Diomande (24) after dunking during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) after scoring a fast break dunk to take a 50-49 lead into halftime of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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AJ Dybantsa’s father, Ace, center looks on during the first half of the game between BYU and the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Wright also shared a little bit of personal news in the postgame locker room. He said that he will not enter the transfer portal when the season ends, and that if he decides to stay in college and not turn pro, it will be at BYU.

“If I am being honest, I haven’t even thought much about that,” he said. “I am just trying to help us win games and then we will see. … I am super excited to be a part of the BYU family, and I just love it here.”

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